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Tampa church's garden yields harvest for the needy

 
Betty Benjamin, a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, shows collard greens she cooked for a May 22 lunch to feed the needy. Church members grew the greens in their garden.
Betty Benjamin, a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, shows collard greens she cooked for a May 22 lunch to feed the needy. Church members grew the greens in their garden.
Published May 25, 2016

EAST TAMPA — For a year, members of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church have tended a garden, harvesting greens, onions and other vegetables.

They washed mounds of collards and mustard greens, carefully blanching and storing them — chopped and ready for use — in a freezer at the East Tampa church. They knew their work would help others.

Their yearlong vision to feed those in need came to realization as meals of chicken, yellow rice, corn bread and greens were prepared for 200 guests last week. The free lunch in the church's social hall at 4008 E Cayuga St. will be the first of many, according to pastor Michael White.

The church plans a monthly mission outreach.

"It was all from starting from a vision, a tiny seed, and now we are able to reach out to the community, what we have been called to do," White said.

White proposed the garden early last year on a church-owned vacant lot at 4011 E Curtis Ave. Members donated garden supplies and seeds for the groundbreaking ceremony held in May 2015.

"If I can go grow grass, I can grow greens and beans," said White, who also owns a fertilizer and pest control service. "I said, 'Let's put this property to use where God gets the glory.' "

He said it was rewarding to see the "fruits of our labor," from the toil and hard work.

A church member told Penny Kersey about the meal and she arrived as a guest.

"It's really a blessing for people out there who need help," Kersey said. "I came to fellowship with the Lord; I came to associate with Christian people."

Church member Betty Benjamin oversaw the preparation of the food. A team of volunteers worked all day May 21 and started at 6 a.m. May 22 for the noontime meal, which was funded through the church's budget.

"It's just so important to help others," Benjamin said.

The church notified relief organizations about the meal and sent a van to pick up people without transportation.

The event also included the distribution of clothing, most of which was hung and sorted by sizes; shoes in plastic bags marked with the sizes; purses; accessories; and other items.

Church secretary Dee McArthur, who helped organize the one-year celebration, said, "From our humble beginnings, we have come a long way."

Contact Lenora Lake at hillsnews@tampabay.com.