No Child Goes Hungry (NCGH) is pleased to provide a $1,000 grant to Blackburn Community Outreach in Todd, North Carolina, a non-profit 501(c)(3) with a mission to engage and mobilize the Todd Community for social, economic, and environmental vitality. The grant will help financially support the season’s youth apprentice in the organization’s Beatitude Garden. This year’s summer intern, a 16-year old young man named Bebo, who is of Cherokee heritage, will work as an intern in the gardens for ten hours a week for 20 weeks this season.
Bebo, whose brothers gave him his unique nickname as a baby, says he is grateful for the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship program that will teach him about the earth and allow him to work outside in nature.
“I love being outside skateboarding, hiking with my family, or doing projects,” said Bebo. “I am excited about being the Beatitude Gardens intern for BCO. My brother, Lee, was the first youth garden intern, and he learned a lot about regenerative gardening. I look forward to learning more and obtaining skills that will help me for the rest of my life. I am very interested in being a part of working toward a sustainable future where we care for creation and people.”
Blackburn Community Outreach focuses heavily on food relief and nutrition education to achieve its mission of engaging and mobilizing the Todd Community for social, economic, and environmental vitality.
“Funding from partners like No Child Goes Hungry helps us continue to expand our efforts to offer hunger relief to families and children experiencing issues related to food accessibility,” said Jamie Flanders, Blackburn Community Outreach Executive Director. “We operate an existing community-supported agriculture (CSA) share program that offers food boxes weekly for 20 weeks to the Ashe County region, located in a ten-mile food desert radius, regardless of means. We aim to increase our shares from nine to 18 this June through October.”
Flanders adds that Blackburn Community Outreach also offers a mentorship program that allows community youth to learn about the importance of fresh food and agriculture.
“Our participants work in the community garden and learn where their food comes from, about food systems, and how to prepare and cook fresh produce,” said Flanders.
To learn how NCGH can help support your local hunger advocacy initiative, contact us today.