Three Cheers (and more) for Volunteers! 

Warm greetings from Appalachian Ohio!  Summer sets the natural world a-buzz, and the same magic that makes summer a season of growth and food production keeps us humming, too.  Between pollinators, seed dispersal, water and sun, decomposition, fruit production, and countless other cycles and relationships, the ecosystems around us thrive.  How many participants does it take to make garden grow? We'll start counting and get back with you in November...  

Ecosystems are interconnected networks, and at Community Food Initiatives we see and experience the results of a connected community on a daily basis.  With this newsletter, we’d like to celebrate our amazing network of volunteers who make doing what we do possible. To the people pictured here, and to all of you, thank you! 

Below we’ve shared awesome photos of all the work that’s happening, and you can read just what volunteers have to say about working with CFI, too. 

Emily Anderson, Dietetics Intern student at OU, has this to say about her experience with CFI:

"I really loved working with CFI and seeing the many people and farmers that donate produce to the Donation Station. Working with CFI has shown me how many different companies and people work together to help those that are food insecure get access to fresh, local produce. I cannot wait to work with you guys again soon!" 

And from Robin Blair-Ackison, Masters of Public Health student at OU:

"Experiencing and participating in the grassroots efforts of CFI is rewarding, humbling and empowering. To see that a group, no matter how small, can provide fresh, local food and education to families as well as create a positive impact on the local economy and agriculture system is nothing short of amazing. I’m grateful to CFI for allowing me to participate."

Randy and Rachel Riling, community garden champions and long-time workhorse volunteers have this reflection to share:

"When we began so many years ago, the thought of growing our own food was mainly for economic reasons.  But, as we really dug our heels in the dirt so to speak, we enjoyed the organic aspect of our CFI experience.  What a joy it is to plant something, tend it, and then taste how wonderful it is."

Last but not least, we'll leave you with this story from Mike Kubisek, super-volunteer, champion of the people, and king of connections:

"One evening during my 50's (yeah, a long time ago) I was standing on my brother's front porch enjoying a glass of wine and talking with my Mom. Tired from a long week of  'stuff' I mentioned how many meetings I had gone to that week...(at the time I was serving on 6 non-profit boards of directors.) Mom looked at me with a smile and asked,  'Why do you do all that stuff?'.  I thought about it for a while and finally answered, 'For the first 50 years of my life I took out. Now I'm putting back in.'  She smiled...

When I do Donation Station I'm putting back in...and that is a good thing for me."

Join us in October for an evening of local food and fellowship! See flyer below for details, and watch for ticket sales to be announced soon.  Save the date today!