Gardens Giving Local Charities A Chance To Serve Community

A couple of Steinbach charities have been getting their hands dirty this summer.

Both Island Breeze and Soup’s On have been maintaining gardens and providing produce for those in need.

“This produce is very valuable,” says Founder and Manager of Soup’s On Joy Neufeld. “It literally goes into the mouths of the people living in poverty in Steinbach.”

Neufeld began her charity 16 years ago after noticing impoverished people within her community. “I just happen to like to get my hands into dirt and grow things.” After the plants are ready for the garden she hands them over to Gardening Coordinators Larry, and his wife, Marilyn Friesen.

“It’s just been kind of a pleasure to work with a small group of people that enjoy gardening,” says Friesen.

He lists onions, tomatoes, peppers, and carrots as creations currently growing in the garden but says it’s the cucumbers everyone anticipates as Neufeld needs it for her special salad.  For Friesen, who is now in his eighth year of volunteering, the payoff is seeing their work reciprocated with gratitude.

“Seeing Joy getting hugs after a big meal, that to me is the joy, just to see the appreciation that is there.”

Even with all the appreciation, the need has grown this year as a result of so many people losing their jobs to COVID-19 precautions.

“At the end of June, I had these families coming, and of course they would thank me for their lunches up until this point, but they would make comments similar to ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do through July and August’.”

It is for this reason Neufeld approached her Board of Members and requested that they maintain their school lunch program straight through the summer. “The need is evident. The need is in front of your face week after week. How can you just turn your back on that? Well, we can’t. And so, we keep on going.”

As for Island Breeze, they may have started their garden only two years ago to assist in feeding their discipleship training students, but a surplus now has them working with Steinbach Helping Hands.

“We are producing so much food we actually want to donate it to the community,” says spokesperson Tessa Masi. “We absolutely love partnering with Helping Hands and they are very appreciative.”

For Masi the benefits of bearing produce are twofold, in that, they get to teach an important skill to their students as well as allow them to partner with another local charity.

“We have a ton of potatoes, our tomatoes are doing great, carrots, beans, peas, corn, all that kind of stuff. So, were really looking forward to the different stages of harvesting. We’ve started the peas, beans, and potatoes, and the rest will be coming up soon.”

Masi mentions an Island Breeze fundraising video which was made after learning they could not host their regular event.  For those interested, it can be found on their website or social media platforms.