“Expect unexpected partnerships,” community leader Jackie Sugg said during RAFI’s Come to the Table Food & Partnerships event, which happened on February 25 in Farmville, North Carolina. Sugg was sharing her experience co-creating the Farmville Food Hub and experiencing all of the benefits that come from participating in a community-informed project. The Food Hub didn’t set out to be a food hub but rather came out from intentional community meetings. “There was a lack of access to food that people wanted to eat,” reflected Zac Hackney, and the solution to that required both deepening community partnerships and listening.
The goal of this event was to highlight the work of the Farmville Food Hub and how their various partnerships brought about community buy-in and improved access to food resources in their community. Sugg reflected that much of their success was due to “listening and de-centering our own narratives” in order to make way for other’s stories. Pastor of Farmville Christian Church Morgan Daughety emphasized the critical role that faith communities can play in food access work. “If you don’t hear anything else from me,” Daughety said, “hear these two things: Churches need to have paths in and out of their doors to other organizations. And you need to have relationships with other people.”
Throughout the day, participants were able to see said partnerships in real-time by visiting the church, the library, the Community Outreach Kitchen, and finally the Farmville Community Garden. “Today was a great example of faith and food leaders coming together to serve together,” one participant remarked.
RAFI’s Come to the Table program is hosting more events this year- click here to find an event near you!