A Just Harvest is presenting the Winston Garnett and Mary Byrd Award for Service to Union Church of Hinsdale at our 9th Annual Awards Banquet and Benefit on Sunday, October 14. We are so grateful for their outstanding service in partnership!
Union Church of Hinsdale has volunteered and donated a monthly meal at A Just Harvest on the 4th Sunday of every month for more than 25 years. The congregation has also made an annual financial gift for the past 10 years and makes additional special gifts when they are able, such as designating their 2012 Easter offering to A Just Harvest and purchasing a new set of plates for the Community Kitchen.
When UCH first started donating and serving food, A Just Harvest was a nascent project of the Good News Community Church, a fellow United Church of Christ congregation. UCH valued not only their service in the Community Kitchen but also the chance to work in partnership with a young, urban UCC congregation.
Beyond its partnership with A Just Harvest, Union Church of Hinsdale is a champion of justice and has a long standing history of involvement in work as varied as the anti-war movement of the 1960s to overseas mission trips.
The central question UCH asks about any ministry is “How can we get involved?”
At one point, UCH gave to 20 agencies, but the church now focuses its efforts on about 15 agencies that engage its members with face-to-face volunteer opportunities and that benefit from the talents of individual members.
Rev. Thom Parrott-Sheffer, associate pastor of 8 years, says that the opportunity to get behind the line and serve patrons directly is so important to UCH members. Pastor Thom adds, “Our partnership with A Just Harvest has lasted so long because while ministry became more and more about giving money, writing letters and helping from a distance, we were always so hands-on with A Just Harvest.”
Pastor Thom adds that volunteers feel welcomed, have a clear task and know that they are making a difference each time they serve.
Kim Kiyosaki, began volunteering with her entire family in the mid 1990s when her youngest child was just 10 years old. Kim can name at least a dozen families who have volunteered from the time their children were in junior high until they entered college. “Our congregation’s adults volunteer many places, but the unique thing that happens with A Just Harvest is that it can be a family affair, and that makes a huge difference”, says Kim. “It helps create a lifelong connection between A Just Harvest and our church.”
Brad Gravelin, who succeeded Kim Kiyosaki as the liaison from UCH’s Mission Board to A Just Harvest, also volunteered with his wife and children for many years. “The fact that A Just Harvest is outside our immediate community adds value to the experience for us,” Brad says. “Serving at AJH has had a huge impact on me. It has given me a different perspective on people’s true needs.” Both Brad and Fran Evans, UCH’s current Mission Board liaison, agree that in addition to family volunteer opportunities it provides a unique opportunity for UCH’s youth and older members to work as a team. (You can read much more about Fran Evans, UCH’s Community Kitchen Volunteer of the Year, on A Just Harvest’s blog.
Doug Clark has volunteered since 1992 and agrees that it is a great way to fellowship with other members. He also really enjoys socializing with the patrons. Doug believes it is important to maintain the historic relationship between UCH and AJH and views his volunteering as an important part of keeping the ties going.
