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, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Village Harvest

Village Harvest, July 2022 – What happened?

When we look back in July and over recent years, the trends from June to July show either a steady increase or a sizeable drop. There is no consistency between years.

We had 74 people visit the harvest in July.  That was  a significant drop from 96 in June.  In 2021, the number from June to July  was actually up from 70 to 80 reflecting an increase. 2020 was a pandemic year. In 2019 the number of clients fell from 130 to 101. The year before there was an increase from 100 to 119. So it’s  “all over the place.” For the year 2022 is just above 2021, 617 to 615 but the difference between the years has been decreasing.

The real value is in the food provided – and that is up . We distributed 1,254 pounds of food, the largest distribution since March. The year it is 8,841 pounds for 2022 vs 8,718 for 2021. Pounds per client were up monthly from 14.18 to 14.33. The last full year was 2019 which was only 12 pounds. Similarly, the value per client at $6 a pound averaged from  $86 to $88 monthly during the period. It was $81 in 2019, the last full year. 

One positive is the composition of the foods. Produce shot up from 9% to 34%. In 2019 and 2021 it was comparable at 36%.  Meat was the main change at 19% in July, 2022 compared to 15% in 2021 and 7% in 2019

Village Harvest – Behind the scenes, June 2022

We sometimes forget there is more than one team that makes the Village Harvest happen. These pictures were taken at the Healthy Harvest Food Bank in Montross on June 14, 2022, one day before the Harvest on June 15, 3pm to 5pm

Healthy Harvest’s mission is “To provide hope in the communities we serve through the right food and education . ” Serving six counties in Virginia’s Northern Neck and Upper Middle Peninsula as the only organization of its kind in the region, the food bank is committed to increasing its capacity to meet future demand, offer educational programs to children as well as clients with health-related dietary issues and increase the nutritional value of food provided locally and across the state of Virginia.”  One in eight neighbors in need struggle with food insecurity, making the services offered at the food bank critical for every struggling family, child and senior who deserves access to healthy, nutritious food.

The facility is modern. The picture shows the facility powered by solar panel. The food is gathered and this month placed in Helmut’s truck. (Cookie and Johnny who usually do this leg were away Wisconsin).

Thanks to Denise, Catherine, Andrea and Helmut who helped to gather the food in June.

The Village Harvest at June– increase in numbers

For the first six months of 2022, the Village Harvest served 543 people compared to 535 in 2021. Most of the shoppers came during first quarter through the 2nd quarter showed most of the increase. This is the first increase since 2019 during the first six months of the year

The actual pounds were down from 7,664 to 7,590. Pounds per person were also down from 14.33 to 13.98. However, we are above the level of the pre-pandemic period with the best figure then at 11.67. At $6 a pound, the 2022 figure is just under $84 in value.

Understanding trends of the Village Harvest in May

Understanding trends of the Village Harvest in May

We are close to the results of 2021 after 5 months in 2022. For the year (2022) we are at 447 clients compared to last year’s 465. Overall pounds for 2022 are at 6,343 pounds which is close to last year’s 6,364. Like the clients figure it is statistically the same.

Looking at just the last two months together (April and May), however, shows a variation from the two months before that (Feb and March). Basically, Feb and March offset the results of April and May to allow for a similar year to date in May, 2022 to May, 2021.

Read more about the May harvest

Village Harvest, Aug. 15, 2018

After reaching a high number served of 153 in April and dropping in May to 112, we have been steadily increasing the numbers served over the last quarter.  June fed 100, July 119 and this month in August rose to 140. We have served 860 people this year which is below 2017 (1,039) but above 2016 (763). See the entire article

Village Harvest, July 18, 2018

The weather was temperate with temperatures in the mid 80’s under brilliant sunshine. We had a variety of help transporting and organizing the food including visiting priest Luis Garcia and his family from the Dominican Republic. He is our celebrant this Sunday

1,490 pounds of food were distributed which included a wide variety – 588 pounds of fresh produce, 463 pound of grocery items, 322 pounds of meat and 40 pounds of bakery items. While a significant number, it is under average this year’s average of 1,617 pounds. Still it is 121% greater than the same period a year ago. Parishioners are contributing school supplies this month and next.

Food went to 119 families, the largest number since April. The average food received was 12.52 pounds of food with a value of $75

Thanks to Andrea Pogue for the photos.

Now we are 3! The Village Harvest, Nov. 15, 2017

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary of our food ministry, the Village Harvest in a big way by serving 191 people on Nov. 15. What a birthday! This is a new monthly record and up from 170 the month before. This provides even more focus on building financial support, particularly on #Giving Tuesday. We gave out all 1,600+ pounds of food including chicken, peanut butter, tuna. potatoes squash, cabbage and cereal. canned vegetables and grapes.

Through Nov, 2017 after 3 years we have served 4,187 people, 33,934 pounds of food. That’s 8 pounds a person or market value of $48 each month a client comes. FREE!

Link to the article is here.

Village Harvest, July 15, 2015 with the rainbow beans

Rainbow soup made its way from your donation of individual beans to Vacation Bible School’s creation of the mix of beans to the Village Harvest Distribution on July 15. We distributed about 500 pounds of food at the July Village Harvest on July 15 to 81 people. Three families that were expected did not show up. Thanks to Johnny Davis for his work in procuring the fresh produce which included onions, cucumbers, potatoes, and egg plant

Village Harvest, April 15, 2015

We had 77 people to serve , one more than last month. Pounds of produce 500 (sweet potatoes, baking potatoes, and kale), less than last month but we added crackers, peanut butter, ham and eggs for each family.||Comments from those who received 1. “This is a real blessing. Thank you for doing this, it really helps us out.” 2. “Having this food means that I can buy something else I really need.”|||Comments from those working to make this distribution possible 1. “Doing this work is a privilege” 2. “I see this food distribution as a way to bring our community closer together.”

Village Harvest distribution November 19, 2014

In our first food distribution, we gave out food to twenty families for a total of sixty people, 3:30pm to 5pm. We gave out 80 cans of soup, and 300 pounds of fresh produce. (We did 700 pounds in Dec. ) The produce included white potatoes, sweet potatoes, collards, carrots. We also distributed kleenix. Some received chickens (16) and some recipes for collards and carrots. Thanks to all who contributed and worked to create this new ministry. The ECW was instrumental in getting the bags together for the event and working to distribute.