United Ministries Interfaith Hospitality Network received a grant on Sept. 9 from Greenville’s food, wine and music festival, euphoria, for its Fresh Food for Families project. The grant will provide a year’s worth of local produce for 20-25 homeless families.
“This grant was made possible by euphoria’s Producers Circle members, as their donations were earmarked specifically for this initiative,” said Morgan Allen, executive director of euphoria. “The money will be used to purchase produce from Mill Village Farms, so this grant is helping two wonderful local organizations at the same time. That is what community is all about.”
“Through the Fresh Food for Families program, Mill Village Farms brings 18 boxes of fresh produce to United Way every other Wednesday,” Alexandra Harris, United Ministries Interfaith Hospitality Network program manager, said.
The produce boxes will be delivered biweekly to families in emergency shelters as well as those living in longer-term interim housing who are on United Ministries’ Transformation Track. This program allows participants to gain job skills, find employment, receive mental health counseling, improve financial stability, and possibly work toward getting a GED.
“Through the Fresh Food for Families program, Mill Village Farms brings 18 boxes of fresh produce to United Way every other Wednesday,” Alexandra Harris, United Ministries Interfaith Hospitality Network program manager, said. “They are full of fresh, local produce, with everything from kale, potatoes and radishes to squash, broccoli, and bananas. It’s something different every week, which makes it a fun surprise for our families when they open the box. Each one also comes with recipe cards and suggestions for how to cook a healthy meal.”
In addition to the United Ministries grant, euphoria made a donation to Meyer Center for Special Children in honor of the festival’s 15th anniversary and co-founder Edwin McCain’s 50th birthday.