Press Release: Come to the Table to Relieve Hunger and Support Local Farms – Piedmont Conference

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: [email protected]

January 10, 2013

 COME TO THE TABLE TO RELIEVE HUNGER AND SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS

Conference at UNC Greensboro on February 19^th, 2013

The Come to the Table Project will present its fourth regional conference series on how people of faith can relieve hunger and support local agriculture in North Carolina. A project of the Rural Advancement Foundation (RAFI-USA) and the NC Council of Churches, this daylong conference will be held at the Elliott University Center at UNC-Greensboro on Tuesday, February 19^th, 8:30am – 5pm. The event is co-sponsored by the Wake Forest University Food and Faith Initiative and the UNCG Communications Department.

North Carolina ranks #8 in the nation for household food insecurity, and in some Piedmont counties, nearly 20% of the population faces food insecurity. This means that many families do not have a reliable, adequate source of food. Despite a growing interest in healthy local food, conditions for family farmers and farmworkers can be difficult, and getting healthy food to our hungry neighbors remains a challenge. This conference provides inspiration and training to people who want better for their communities and congregations.

Malik Yakini and Haile Johnston, national leaders in the food justice movement, will speak at the event. Area clergy and community leaders will lead workshops on a variety of topics, including community gardening, making healthy local food more accessible, empowering youth through food and farming projects, and finding support for your food ministry or project.

The conference is sliding scale ($0-15) and includes lunch. Organizations are encouraged to register for a free display table at the event. On Monday, February 18^th there will be a daylong pre-conference training at the Greensboro Children’s Museum on community organizing skills for community gardeners. Participants can register for the training and the conference at www.cometothetablenc.org or call to register over the phone. All attendees are encouraged to bring a monetary or non-perishable food donation for local hunger relief efforts.

 

Contact:
Sarah Gibson, Conference Coordinator
(919) 259-5169
[email protected]

Francesca Hyatt, Come to the Table Project Director
(919) 323-7587
[email protected]