Year Two of Feeding 5000 began in September 2009. The theme for Year Two is Sustainability and Community. Building on the lessons learned in Year One, the goal is to find sustainable ways to deal with hunger, which leverage our resources and have long lasting impact.

To support the goal of sustainability and community, during the summer of 2009, Dana led our effort to establish a Lexington Interfaith Garden. Her outreach to fellow members of the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association was met with enthusiastic support. To date, 13 faith communities, including Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Evangelical and Muslim, have committed to grow organic produce for hungry local families and nurture interfaith relationships while doing this rewarding work. An organizing group was formed, and a plot of land near Lexington Green and head farmer were chosen. Ground was broken, manure was spread, and crop planning is underway. Planting, weeding, and watering will begin in the spring 2010.

In February 2010, 9 Hancock members will again travel to Honduras on a mission trip to support Sustainable Harvest International’s ongoing work in two Honduran villages. Hands on activities will include planting gardens, creating fish ponds and starting chicken broods, all of which bring greater food security to these families. The funding that Hancock’s Feeding 5000 will provide SHI for a year will provide tools, training, and seeds for these communities to expand sustainable agricultural methods

In Year Two, Feeding 5000 is hosting an after-church “Prime Time” series with speakers from various “sustainable” organizations.  Kevin Johnson of Sustainable Harvest kicked off the series in September.  A second “Prime Time” was held in November when Rachel Brown from Heifer International spoke to more than 50 members of Hancock about Heifer’s sustainable gifts of livestock, international villages to teach about hunger and poverty, and peace efforts.

Other scheduled speakers include Heidi Gengenbach, Organizational Coordinator of Gaining Ground, an organic garden in Concord that annually gives away 100% of its produce (over 20,000 pounds!) to local food banks; and Amma Sefa-Dedeh, director of One Hen, an educational and microfinance non-profit whose mission is to teach elementary age school children about world issues and where they can make a difference.

Feeding 5000 continues to host educational, fun and community-building events for all generations. In October 2009, we organized the Harvest Moon Dinner and Dance, our spin on the tradition of celebrating the fall harvest with a potluck using seasonal foods. In November 2009, the Hancock Environmental Action Team and Feeding 5000 co-sponsored the second annual Alternative Thanksgiving Dinner where we  ate and shared vegetarian food and recipes. The evening helped us remember that one meatless meal saves water, energy, and grains that would have otherwise been diverted to livestock production.

Lastly, 2010 rung in the launch of our next food drive.  Feeding 5000 is partnering with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to help provide food items for its new Backpack program.  GBFB has identified a need to supplement weekend nutrition for students in low-income communities.  A pilot program has just started in Lawrence at some targeted elementary and high schools.  A specific list of nourishing kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare food is distributed on Friday afternoons at the schools and is intended to go home with the students to provide nutrition on the weekends.  Hancock has been asked to help provide four specific items for the backpack program.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in Feeding 5000. Your contributions are making a difference to hungry families locally, regionally and in the developing world.  We invite you to participate in 2010 when we send off and welcome back adult mission trippers to Honduras, kick off the Lexington Interfaith Garden’s first growing season, and continue to explore ways to combat hunger that will have lasting impact.