We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Village Harvest – Feb., 2024 – a positive month

We served 110 at the Feb. 21, 2024 Village Harvest. After a slowdown to 91 last month, we were back at the plateau of 110-112 from achieved fron Nov and Dec. last year. This was 10 people above the earlier period Aug to Oct. which served between 90 and 100.

Totals for the first two months show some consistency from 2021-2024. The total is between 200 and 205 except for 2023 which was substantially lower at 137. We are not sure what happened but weather was not an issue.

Food supplies except were not a positive trend, unfortunately. Food supplied has been lower over the last two years at 2,124 and 1,943 pounds in year 2024 and 2023 compared to 2,716 in 2022 and 2,451 in 2021. Those going to purchase food at the Healthy Harvest in both Jan and Feb found that food choices were limited.

Pounds available per client were actully the lowest in 2024 when considering the period between 2021 and 2024. 2024 was 10.6 pounds per client compared to 14.2 in 2023 and then 13.2 and 12.3 in 2022 and 2021, respectively. 2023’s calculation reflects the lower number of clients.

Costs of the food combining harvests in Jan and Feb was closely aligned to 2022 and 2021 at $0.15 and $0.14 respectively. 2023 was substantially higher at $0.18 per pounds

Here is a photo gallery with the food purchased and their categories:

(full size gallery)