Diocesan farmers donate crop proceeds

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
July 21, 2005

Fields of Opportunities and Dreams (F.O.O.D.) is a project being facilitated in the Fort Dodge area of the Diocese of Sioux City. Through the Food Resource Bank, farmers are able to donate part of their crop to help people in need.

Wynn Touney, a member of the peace and justice commission in the diocese, noted that the name for the group was inspired by one of the farmers participating in the project.

According to the Food Resource Bank Web site, "a community growing project is a unique and rewarding way for communities in the U.S. to raise money to fund food security programs - a long-term solution to the problem of world hunger - in villages in the developing world."

The harvest from 33 acres between eight different farms will be donated this year, noted Touney. The eight farmers include Craig Gascho, Wayne McMannus, Jim Allen, Rich Allen, Terry Flattery, Steve Doster, Dale Murphy, Bob Murphy and Greg Horn.

"For us, in our situation of having rural parishes and urban parishes, we see it as an opportunity for both areas to work together on a project," said Touney. "We are realizing that through the Food Resource Bank and with the ways in which it is processed, our return is doubled or tripled by the time it is actually in the food resource area."

The farmers complete their farming as they normally would do - process their field in the regular manner. They then direct it to the elevators and indicate that so many acres will be pulled out for this project.

"We recommend you call Food Resource Bank when your crop is planted," said the FRB Web site, www.foodresourcebank.org. "Keeping us informed of your progress is a good idea and we will be able to give you guidance. We also have information for you to give to your elevator manager, our printed logo for your field signs, donation forms to designate where your monies will be used, templates for thank-you letters to your donors and sponsors, FRB note-cards for personal acknowledgments and other support materials."

The FRB Web site noted that farmers are not told what to grow, it is up to them. Just as long as someone is willing to grow the crop and it can be sold, FRB is willing to utilize the resources provided. In the Midwest, corn and soybeans are the most popular, but the site expressed that they have also had pumpkins, ornamental gourds and shrubs, hay, winter wheat and even beef cattle.

The monies from the harvest return from those acres is directed to the Food Resource Bank. Catholic Relief Services can pull from that to send items and money to people in need. Once the cash is donated to FRB it is able supply seeds, tools, drip irrigation, animals and instruction to local villagers who work to create community gardens, wells, herds, etc., that will sustain them long-term, the Web site stated.

"We are looking at a site in Africa to direct this to under Catholic Relief Services," said Touney.

She explained that Catholic Relief Services is an implementing member of FRB along with other organizations, meaning that FRB oversees the projects and directs the donations to the other services. Each of the implementing members has an account with FRB.

Proceeds can be designated to a specific account to be used in an FRB-approved program. Project proceeds may also be assigned to a specific in-country program supported by FRB or can be donated to the FRB general program account to be used at FRB's discretion.

The operational costs for Food Resource Bank are raised from separate contributions provided by its members and other donors, so 100 percent of the growing project proceeds go towards supporting food security programs.

When it is time for harvest in the fall, there will be a harvest festival Oct. 22 held at the Gascho farm, commented Touney. There will be a potluck around noon and a prayer service.

For more information or to start a project in your area, visit the Food Resource Bank Web site, www.foodresourcebank.org or call FRB at (888) 276-4372.