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2014 end of the year report!

The Lord’s Harvest: Feeding God’s Children ready to go

Dear Friends,

What a year we had in 2013.  Between the record breaking rainfall, two plantings of potatoes and “bugs” we had a less than stellar year at The Lord’s Harvest.   Still we were able to give something to those who are hungry in our community and for that we give thanks to God!

Over the winter months of 2013 and 2014 we prayed for God to guide us about the upcoming year.  For 2012 and 2013 we battled a lot of rain and lost a lot of potatoes which rotted in the field.  The 2013 harvest was only about 2,000 pounds on approximately 6 acres; far less than our 16,000 pounds the first year we planted on only an acre!

As a matter of good stewardship we decided to switch gears for 2014. We found a source that would sell us 50 pound bags of potatoes far less than what we could grow them for during the best of conditions. We added cornmeal to what we were sharing with our neighbors in need.  We are purchasing the certified corn from a source in Boonville NC and we  began purchasing pinto beans as well.

Sharon and I have received far more blessings this past year, than we could possibly pass out to those that we have been trying to assist thru food distribution.

We thank God for all that He has down for us. The answered prayers and how He never fails us has been amazing and we are having the times of our lives. This past year has been amazing. His divine guidance and love made a path for us to follow that has brought tears and Joy.

I want to thank Sharon for all she has done. Most of all I thank her for her prayers and support. She is the prayer warrior of this ministry and without her the Lord’s Harvest would not exist. She supports me thru times when those times looked kind of bleak for me.

Sharon and I want to thank our family members and friends for their hard work and monetary support. They have been a real inspiration and we thank God for them.

Last to my Veteran Brothers and Sisters from all of the Military Services.  These Combat in Arms Brothers and Sisters have literally been the monetary back bone support for the Lord’s Harvest. Because of their love for their fellow Americans and the deep rooted love for those that are down trodden, they have provided the resources for people they have never met. Their deep rooted desire to provide a freedom from despair has been a part of them all of their lives and they have stepped up to the plate to help.

The Lord’s Harvest presently distributes to 9 Points on a Monthly Basis. They are:

  1. The Beacon Of Hope, Marshall, NC:  Every Monday Morning.
  2. Neighbors In Need, Marshall, NC: Every Tuesday Morning.
  3. 1st Wednesday of every month Victory Baptist Church, Washington County, TN.
  4. 2d Wednesday of every month Hot Springs Salvation Army Post, Hot Springs, NC
  5. 1st Thursday each month FARM (Feeding Aging Residents of Madison) This is a joint County wide program with the Community Services of Madison County
  6. 1st Friday, Flats Missionary Baptist Church, Spring Creek (Joint program with The Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  7. 2d Friday, Salvation Army Point, Old Rock School, Spring Creek, NC
  8. 3d Friday, Spring Creek United Methodist Church (Joint Program with The Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  9. 4th Friday back to the Salvation Army Point, Old Stone School, Spring Creek, NC

We participated in 12 major special events during the calendar year 2014:

  1.  January Community meal at the Wagon Wheel(Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  2. May Community Meal at the Wagon Wheel (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  3. October Community Meal at the Wagon Wheel(Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  4. Walnut Fire Department February (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  5. Walnut Fire Department May (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  6. Hot Springs Food Give Away (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  7. Spillcorn Food Give Away (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church Feeding Program)
  8. New Victory Baptist Church, Washington County, TN
  9. Thanksgiving Backpack Event (Joint event  with Mars Hill Baptist Church Backpack Program)
  10. Christmas Backpack Event (Joint event  with Mars Hill Baptist Church Backpack Program)
  11. Operation Santa, (Joint event with Mars Hill Baptist Church)
  12. United Way, Eastman Chemical Plant, Kingsport, TN

Total Families Reached with food in 2014:

  •  We distributed food to 300 families in Washington County, TN
  • We distributed food to 11,090 families in Madison County, NC

Total Pounds of food by type distributed:

  1.  Potatoes: 48,950 pounds (Broken down and packaged in 2, 5, 8, 10, and 15 pound bags)
  2.  Corn Meal: 12,500 pounds (Broken down and packaged in 1 and 2 pound bags)
  3. Pinto Beans: 10,000 pounds (Broken down and packaged in 1 and 2 pound bags)
  4. Cabbage: 800 pounds
  5. Sweet Potatoes: 500 pounds
  6. Apples: 300 pounds
  7. Oranges: 300 pounds

TOTAL FOOD DISTRIBUTED FOR THE YEAR 2014:  73,050 pounds

TOTAL FAMILIES SERVED FOR YEAR 2014:  11,390

If you would be willing to help with this ministry, it would be of tremendous help!  We want to be able to continue to feed the hungry.   Perhaps you would consider a monthly gift, or even a onetime gift:  No gift is too small!  Make your checks out to Mars Hill Baptist Church and in the memo line write “The Lord’s Harvest”. If you would like to make a onetime donation you can do that on our website at  www.lordsharvestforthehungry.org. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the donate button. If you want to make a monthly donation you will have to mail us the donation monthly. We are working the bugs out on the website. It will not accommodate monthly automatic donations at this time. Sorry for the inconvenience.

As always, we are so appreciative of those who have given to help us in the past and we are especially thankful for those who pray for us and for the ministry!  Please do continue to pray; your prayers keep us going!

We give thanks for you!

Bill (Willy) and Sharon

Helping with Operation Santa at Mars Hill Baptist Church

Operation Santa 1 operation santa 5 operation santa 4We were so blessed to be able to help Mars Hill Baptist Church with Operation Santa today.  150 children in 54 families received toys along with the makings for Christmas dinner, a fresh food box, which included potatoes, dried pinto beans, and stone ground cornmeal from The Lord's Harvest and a snack box provided by one of our partners, The Mars Hill Baptist Feeding Ministry.  It was an incredible experience - in the busy-ness of the season it was wonderful to be able to help folks who would not otherwise have Christmas.  Let us remember WHY we give, because God first gave to us through His Son, Jesus, whose birth we celebrate on December 25!  Merry Christmas!

Labels from our friends at Canterbury United Methodist Church

photo 2 photo 3 Today we received a "care package" from Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL.  Their youth took the time to label quart and sandwich bags with our logo and the cornmeal recipe and to include a scripture verse.  As we share physical food, we pray for God to share spiritual food and hope to those who receive the boxes.  How thankful we are for these wonderful young people and their commitment to help us minister!  You guys are awesome!

Working with the Madison County BackPack program housed at Mars Hill Baptist Church

Backpack 1The Lord's Harvest worked with the Madison County BackPack program which is housed at Mars Hill Baptist Church, on Friday, November 14.  We provided potatoes, pinto beans and stone ground cornmeal to be added to the ham and some muffin mix for the holiday pack to be distributed to 150 school aged children in Madison County Schools the week of Thanksgiving.  With help from Backpack liason, Willa Wyatt and the Delta Zeta Sorority at Mars Hill University, we packed 150 bags in a little over an hour!  Great team effort!  We are so happy to have been a part of this worthwhile ministry!  backpack 2 backpack 3

Sweet Ridge Mill Cornbread Recipe

photo (23)
photo (23)

1 cup Sweet Ridge Mill Cornmeal

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk or buttermilk

2 Tablespoons melted shortening

1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Melt shortening in cast iron skillet.

In mixing bowl add milk and egg, mix together then add cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Mix until smooth. Remove skillet from oven and pour shortening into mixture; mix.  Pour mixture back into skillet and bake for 25- 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

If you like sweet cornbread, add 1/8 to 1/4 cup sugar (to suit your taste) when you add the dry ingredients. Serves 6 - 8. Enjoy!!!!

Partnering with New Victory Baptist Church

IMG_1970 IMG_1971 IMG_1972 IMG_1979 IMG_1995 On October 11, The Lord's Harvest partnered with New Victory Baptist Church for a evening of fun and fellowship and food.  We met with church members on the Thursday night beforehand and in one hour, eighty volunteers, packed 200 boxes in less than one hour!  We returned on Saturday night for the event. 60 families from the community attended.  Brick oven pizza was served to their honored guests, a devotion was offered by their pastor and eight people accepted Christ as their personal Savior! We were honored to sit with one of those who made their profession of faith!

Cooking with Sharon

Cornbread Recipe1 cup SweetRidge Stone Ground Cornmeal 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup buttermilk 2 Tbl melted shortening 1 egg * 2 Tbl sugar (optional) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Melt shortening in iron skillet place skillet in hot over for give minutes. In mixing bowl add egg and buttermilk, mix together. Mix together cornmeal, baking powder and salt (add sugar if you like sweet cornbread). Stir into egg and buttermilk mixture. Mix until smooth. Remove skillet from oven and pour shortening into mx. Mix together and pour mixture back into skillet. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!