The Grace and Hope Community Church (GHCC), a mission church located in Andover, has received a grant to fund a summer mission project. GHCC is extremely excited to join with the Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry (TRIFP) in Franklin, making this a joint venture for us with enormous expectations toward success. Heather Makechnie, Board President of the Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry, encourages all clients of the pantry to take advantage of this exciting new project.

Reverend Karen Heavey, Senior Pastor of GHCC and Director of TRIFP, is already preparing for the first part of this project, called Bucket Garden. Eligible pantry participants and neighbors will receive a fully prepared bucket, a plant start (tomato, pepper, or seed), fertilizer, and instructions to create a bountiful harvest.

When harvest time arrives, Reverend Karen, along with the gardeners, will come together with their bounty. Along with other vegetables that can be obtained from local community gardens, and using products obtained from the food pantry, all participants will receive their own crock pot and be invited to prepare a crock-pot meal for their families.

A recipe book will be provided with delicious menus using the various varieties of produce and food products the Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry provides each month.

As we prepare, we could use some assistance and donations to help make this project a great success. Below are some things you can do or provide:

• Volunteer to help decorate the numerous pots for our participants.
• Donate potting soil and/or fertilizer.
• Donate a new or just-about-new family-size crock pot.
• Share your tried and true recipes for crock-pot cooking.
• Volunteer to put a recipe book together.

Of course, financial assistance can always be used for those last-minute items.

Reserve a bucket garden and crock pot by contacting Reverend Karen at RevKJHeavey@nullgmail.com or call her at TRIFP at 934-2662.