STURGIS — Braving cold temperatures and a few snow flurries, volunteers from area organizations and Mississippi State University worked to clear land and create an organic farm Saturday for the Southern Foundation for Homeless Children.
The work began Saturday morning at the SFHC property on Pleasant Ridge Road, said Casey McCue, a representative with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
“This is part of our residential program,” McCue said. “We have students from Mississippi State University, along with the AmeriCorps NCCC team and youth from both the Sturgis and Columbus homes of Southern Foundation for Homeless Children, working to clear land to house cattle, chickens and goats, to raise an organic garden and to build a barn.”
At least 20 young men who are in foster care live at the homes in Sturgis and Columbus, McCue added.
Because recent rains caused wet grounds, work on the barn was delayed Saturday
“When we get the chance to work, we plan on using wood and other recyclable products. The barn will house the animals, which will provide milk, eggs, and meat for the SFHC residents.
“With the garden, the plan is for the residents to grow organic vegetables,” McCue said. “This is to help them become more self-reliant. They can sell them once they grow them.”
McCue said this also offers the residents an opportunity to learn more about organic farming.
“This will teach the young men a trade, as well as raise awareness about organic farming,” she said.
Work began Saturday at 9 a.m., and wrapped up at noon, McCue said as the SFHC residents and volunteers got together for lunch and fellowship after the work session.
Gwendolyn Gray said she has been with SFHC since 2000.
“Our specialty is housing at-risk youth,” she said. “We are taking care of these 20 young men. Our mission is to get them back with their families. We also want them to get an education, to earn a GED.”
Gray said the garden project is an asset for the young men, not just to help them become more self-sufficient.
“They get to learn about the benefits of organic farming,” she said. “It is a benefit to the health of people and a benefit to the earth.”
Gray said she was pleased with the efforts of the work group and the things they accomplished.
“This has been great, even though we had bad weather,” she said. “We were able to get some work done. The AmeriCorps group has been great to work with.”
AmeriCorps NCCC is a 10-month, full-time, team-based residential program for men and women ages 18-24 who are organized into teams of 10-12 members.
McCue said they serve in a region”s local communities by responding to needs in the areas of disaster preparation, response and recovery, environmental conservation, public safety, urban and rural development, and education.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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