Spring 2011 - Glenmary Challenge

mission needFood pantrynow includesfruit infood boxesSteps being taken tomake Bertie Countyresidents healthier[north carolina] Ina 2010 study that measuredthe health of U.S.counties on a scale of1-100, with 1 being thehealthiest and 100 beingthe least healthy, BertieCounty earned a 99.Of the 13,000 peopleliving in this eastern NorthCarolina county, over 23percent live below the nationalpoverty level.As a result, most residentscannot afford to eathealthier, as healthy foodstend to be more expensiveGlenmarynews& notesfeeding the hungry: Brother Jack Henn, left,and Brother Curt Kedley work to help feed the hungryin Bertie County, N.C.,—and to provide clientswith healthier alternatives.than prepared foods.Glenmary’s mission,The Catholic Communityof Bertie County, aswell as the Good ShepherdFood Pantry, servethe residents of BertieCounty. For example, in2009 Brother Jack Hennand Brother Curt Kedleywere instrumental instarting the ecumenicalfood pantry.“The number of familiesserved each month atthe food pantry continuesto rise,” Brother Jack says.“Currently we help over400 families, up 100 a fewmonths ago.”He says the winter hasbeen exceptionally coldand people are paying“outlandish” heating bills.“When people have tochoose between keepingwarm or buying healthierfood, heat wins out,” explainsBrother Jack.But thanks to a $10,500grant awarded to the foodpantry, each family nowreceives three pounds offresh oranges or applesin a food box along witha copy of a newsletter toprovide education abouthealthy eating habits andexercise.“People have been soappreciative,” BrotherJack says. “It’s a smallstep, but we have to startsomewhere.”glenmary FarmSummer event to celebrate 40 years of ‘growing people’ in Lewis County, Ky.[kentucky] In 1971,Glenmary began operatingthe Glenmary Farm inVanceburg, Ky., as a placewhere young men couldvisit to discern a vocationwith Glenmary andprovide outreach to thegreater community.Today, four decadeslater, the Farm is hometo the Glenmary GroupVolunteer Program. Eachyear, more than 500students from Catholichigh schools, collegesand youth groups fromaround the country cometo the Farm to experiencea week of missionary service,prayer and immersioninto the Appalachianculture.“Students and chaperonestell us their stays hereare fun and life-changing,”says Joe Grosek, directorof Glenmary’s volunteerprogram. He estimatesnearly 20,000 youngpeople have visited theFarm over the years.To celebrate the 40thanniversary, Joe, a formerFarm manager, has invitedother past Farm managersto a July 11-17, 2011,reunion in Vanceburg.The Farm continuesto be important to Glenmary’smission, Joe says,because it’s “a way toexpose young people tomission needs right inour own country, and toinvite them to join Glenmaryin responding tothose needs.”www.glenmary.orgSpring 2011 Glenmary Challenge5