“The eight or so neatly arranged rectangular, raised fruit, flower, and vegetable beds flanked by now towering corn and giant pumpkins on one side and two picnic tables sitting beneath a massive shade tree on the other are what I call the real Altgeld Garden. Almost weekly, a hand picked group of city dwelling girls and boys worked at the Crete, Illinois garden alongside watchful adult volunteers.
From breaking up rocky dirt, shoveling fertile soil into the beds, sowing seeds, pulling weeds, harvesting and even grilling vegetables to accompany the usual hot dogs and homemade desserts, the kids did it all. The garden trek was incomplete without a meal, playtime, and Ms. Jodi’s Bible lesson.
At the end of the day, students went home with two bags of produce; one for their own household and the other to bless a neighboring family. Even volunteers were blessed with carrots, tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, potatoes, rhubarb, lettuce, cabbage, assorted peppers and squash for their tables.
As this year’s experience draws to a close, I see the Bible parable of the sower and the seeds demonstrated in the lives and hearts of the children. There were hearts of rock. A child who just didn’t want to be there and never returned. Hearts of sand with initial excitement that turned to boredom when the work was hard or the rain fell. A changed heart in the girl who said this is hard work, declared she wouldn’t work, then worked nearly as hard as anyone else and proclaimed she had fun and would do it again. Good soil was the heart of a 5th grade boy who was obviously already cultivated in Godliness and eagerly prayed whenever given a chance, mentioning everyone by name and bringing tears to my eyes.
May God continue to richly bless Faith and Action for demonstrating God’s love in a consistent, tangible way. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of what you do so well—demonstrating God’s love.”
LaVera, Volunteer
