Feeding the Poor Through Locally Grown Foods

by  Michael Thompson, Contributing Writer

To feed the poor in Detroit, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen doesn't just look for cash and canned good donations.

The 2-acre Earthworks urban farm that surrounds the soup kitchen facility provides plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some of the 460-ton harvest goes on the plates of the soup kitchen's 100 daily patrons. Other portions of the produce are given to family's in need. Sales to support the project are made on site and at downtown's Eastern Market.

Earthworks expanded in 2001 and began working with the Wayne County Department of Heath, which oversees the federal Women Infant and Children (WIC) food program. One aspect of WIC is Project FRESH, which encourages parents to serve their children fresh fruits and vegetables rather than unhealthy fast food and snacks. In this respect, produce from the Earthworks farm is helping to combat child obesity.

Learn more about Earthworks and Capuchin Soup Kitchen:

http://www.cskdetroit.org/

http://www.cskdetroit.org/EWG/