Generosity of farmers helps a hungry world

Dear editor:

In 2006, the Loaves & Fishes Growing Project harvested crops from 332 acres of land in 25 different fields of South Simcoe. Through crop sales and cash donations, we were able to send $101,000 to the Canada Food Grains Bank (CFGB), www.foodgrains bank.ca.

Our community can share with others throughout the world because South Simcoe farmers, churches, organizations, agribusinesses and individuals work together.

Thanks to these who provided land, labour, crop inputs or equipment: Gail Baldero; Wayne Benjamins; Bob Boneschansker; James, John, Olive & Robert Borland; Ben, Jacob, Laura, Nicole & Sam Brayford; Delores Byrne; Ian Campbell; Donna Chantler; Barb & Alf Dumont; Anne & Orville Dungey; Doug, Francine, Ian, & Leo Dykstra; Doug, Kevin, John & Harry Eisses; Ingrid Eurich; Lois Fallis; Brian & Joe Feddema; Bryan, Bruce & Gladys Fieldhouse; Marianne, Michael & Paul Gagnon; Pasquale Gramano; Manfred & Marilyn Gratz; Peter Harvey; Rod Hattle; Rob Henry; Amanda, Andrew, Louise, Rebecca Lynn & Scott Hewson; Esther Hicks; Kathy, Rachel & Tom Hodgson; Kevin, Rick & Scott Horlings; Warren Jackson; Jean, Matthew & Robert Keffer; Anne, Caitin, Jason, Jeff, Keith, Larry, Lisa, Roger, Stephen & Steve Kell; Ron Lloyd; David & George Lucas; Eva & Mary Jane Mathieu; John Morrison; John Nanowski; A. B. Neilson & Sons; Levi Shantz; Lyn Smith; Frank Spezialli; Isaiah Swidersky; Ron Van Dorp; Janet Van Hemert; Harry, John & Ruth VanderZaag; Wayne Van Dyke; Paul Wardlaw; Walter Weening; Ernie, Peter & Tomas Wienecke; Jim Williams; Jeff Wohlgemuth; Cardinal Farm Supply; Charwen-LAC; Cooney Farms; Dekalb; Dunkerron Elevators Inc.; Eisses Farms; Hewitt Creek Farms; Holmar Farms; Kell Farms; Kell Grain Elevator; Kingsview Farms; Langford Grain; Maple Farm Supply; Monsanto; NK; Pioneer Hi- Bred Ltd.; Simcoe District Co-op; Syngenta; UPI; Simcoe County Plowmen's Association; Simcoe County Wheat Producers and the Mudde Family.

Thanks also to the hosts of our Harvest Celebration - Alliston Christian Reformed Church; and the over thirty churches that support our Growing Project with cash donations that are used to help pay land rent, crop insurance, seed, fertilizer, sprays, drying and trucking costs.

The Loaves & Fishes Growing Project began in the fall of 1997 when a group of local farmers and individuals gathered at a church in Bond Head and made plans to grow corn, soybeans and wheat to donate to the CFGB.

Since then they have raised cash and grains valued at over $750,000. When this is matched 4:1 by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), this amount could increase to $3,750,000.

The CFGB is a Christian organization, which consists of 13 member church denominations that provide food and development assistance to people in need through the mission/relief /development agencies of these denominations.

Since 1983, the CFGB has provided over 1,000,000 tonnes of grain to those in need in Africa, Asia, Europe and The Americas.

Thank you to all who made this possible,

Dr. Peter VanderZaag,

coordinator

Loaves & Fishes Growing Project of South

Simcoe