Filling stomachs, feeding souls
A Minot man who has made his raised garden beds in Velva available to the Lord’s Cupboard is to be commended, highly.
Last year Duane Brekke donated 1,000 pounds of vegetables from his garden to the pantry to help feed local people in need. As we learned in Sunday’s front-page story, a host of people have become involved thanks to Brekke’s generosity and example.
Twice a week this spring volunteers carpooled to Velva to plant and now to tend the gardens. That effort will continue through harvest, a harvest that will hopefully be bountiful.
“It’s really a blessing that Duane has put up these raised gardens and having us at the food pantry getting the produce from it,” said volunteer Sharyl Roth.
Brekke said of his initial involvement with the pantry that it didn’t take long for him to realize the importance of the work the volunteers were doing.
“I went to the Lord’s Cupboard and observed them a couple of days,” said Brekke. “I looked at the people there and they really needed it,” he said of his donations. “I was so impressed.”
Judging by the comments of Roth and other volunteers, it seems they are being fed too – soul food. They are experiencing what most farmers feel when they till the land knowing that people at the other end of the food chain are being fed and blessed.
In all, it’s just a good thing what Brekke has done.
Anyone who would like to take part in the gardening should call or text 721-0839. Workers meet in Minot’s Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot at 8 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. Volunteers garden for two hours and return to Minot by 11:30 a.m.
Many hands make light work.