The Pennsylvania Council of Churches has inaugurated a program this year that will provide space for community gardening. This effort is tied to Jesus Christ’s mandate calling Christians to feed the hungry and address the physical needs of challenged communities. Our ministry is formed to provide a wholistic approach to meeting the needs of God’s people throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Our aim is to address the spiritual, mental, and physical needs of our constituents and all people within the scope of our ministry. As we meet physical needs the Council has initiated an effort to provide organic, whole food to persons and providing an opportunity for congregations and community members to have access to healthy foods.

We would like to offer the community and congregations gardening space at no cost on the site of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. We only ask that you, your family, or congregation commit to helping with the construction and maintenance of the community gardening site.

Our Community Garden Project is one component of our outreach designed to engage communities as people grow their own food; our aim is to educate and encourage the consumption of fresh and healthy foods. One social consideration in our faith commitment is that we seek to address the need for access to affordable and nutritious food, giving people buy in opportunities, as we collaborate with communities to address issues of hunger and healthy eating. The Pennsylvania Council of Churches is creating a space where persons can grow food in an intergenerational context where healthy food choices are encouraged and created. The Council of Churches is committed to engaging persons, churches and community organizations to enhance physical and economic health. Our role is to provide a space for growing food, preparing food and ultimately create entrepreneurial enterprises for people in the community. We are committed to working with faith communities, schools, businesses, hospitals, medical facilities, and government entities to create opportunities for community health and food production. Our mission is to teach people to cultivate their own food and develop their skills for healthy living.

Our mandate is to feed, educate, transform lives create healthy spaces and build opportunities for entrepreneurial development as we follow the Jesus’ mandate to make people whole.

In faith,
Rev. Dr. Larry D. Pickens

Orientation:

To find out more about the community garden, we will be holding an orientation event at the Pennsylvania Council of Churches offices on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10:00am-12:00pm

If you would like to get involved with the garden let us know: pennsylvania@pachurches.org