Mom Megan Bushnell, (left), got her family and another family involved in making this Model Raised Bed Garden using model clay and other supplies. Its amazing…these pictures do show the detail of the vegetables molded and colored exactly like carrots, squash, cabbage and zucchini. Plus, the ground is authentic Chester County sheep wool. The project was designed and created by: Megan Bushnell, Kelly Dillon, Laura Florence, Mavis Florence-Bushnell, Wylie Florence-Bushnell and Eva Rutledge.

The model garden will be used at speaking engagements to illustrate the ways our Raised Bed Gardens are popping up all over Chester County. Real Garden beds are tended to by volunteers who plant and harvest the food for local food pantries. It’s a great way to help feed the hungry in our area and get involved with gardening.

Want to know more? Contact Program Manager Phoebe Kitson at the Food Bank.

pkitson@chestercountyfoodbank.org

“When I first found myself unemployed, not knowing how long it would take to receive benefits, I found myself for the first time in my life needing to reach out and not knowing how to do it.  I had been working full time and taking college classes. I could not believe it. I felt embarrassment, anguish and frustration at the situation I now found myself in, having to reach out for help.  I went to look for help with my head down, hoping no one would see me, and feeling shame. Yet I soon found out I wasn’t alone and that was my measure of consolation.  I have found the community support in West Chester to be above and beyond what a person could expect and every day I have heartfelt thanks to the community, volunteers of the churches, the food cupboards and the community at large.”

PS: This was in September 2009.  A recent conversation with him (January 2010) at the West Chester Food Cupboard revealed that he has started college classes again, he was looking for a room rather than an apartment to rent and was navigating the world of benefits and grants – he remains optimistic and very grateful for the help he has received.

The 200+ park residents had lost most of their perishable food in the storm and had just been informed that power would not be restored until later that night at the earliest. The president of the home owner’s association, Shawn Moyer and wife Amanda were looking for help, and the Food Bank staff moved into action!

On Monday morning the Chester County Food Bank made an “Emergency Relief ” delivery to residents of the trailer park. They provided them with frozen meats, cheese, butter, eggs, and produce donated by Pete Flynn of Pete’s Produce Farm, as well as shelf-stable milk and some other non-perishables.

Many thanks to all of the volunteers who were able to help the Chester County Food Bank successful respond to a situation like this.

We asked him to write up his experience to see if we could post it or use it somehow on our Web site..   Kind of a “What I did on my semester break instead of going to…… “     This is it!    Cresswell_Spring_Break_2010