Chester Eastside Garden
Trinity Outreach efforts to address food scarcity during the pandemic

Food scarcity is a serious issue for many people in our local community.  The COVID-19 crisis caused a dramatic increase in food scarcity due to job losses and diminished donations to emergency food sources. Trinity’s Outreach Committee responded to the increased need for food by continuing to prioritize Trinity’s support of the Chester Eastside Garden,  located in nearby Chester.  For the past several year, the Trinity parishioner mother-daughter team of Barbara and Laura Nagel, along with other volunteers, worked side-by-side with the Chester Eastside Garden Club, comprised of children who participate in the Chester Eastside after-school program, to teach them about gardening.  In January of this year, Barbara taught the children about seed germination.  In February, the seeds for spring and summer gardens were planted and placed under grow lights.  The children watered and watched the seedlings grow until March, and then all of our lives changed dramatically!  The Chester Eastside after-school program closed abruptly leaving the seedlings unattended.  Barbara saved the seedlings by taking them home to grow under lights in her living room.   By April, the seeds were ready to plant.   Barbara and Laura Nagel, along with other volunteers planted the spring seedlings in 7 raised beds.   They grew lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, collards, kale, broccoli, carrots, beets, onions and strawberries.  The summer seedlings were planted in 9 raised beds.  The fruits and vegetables grown at the Chester Eastside Garden are donated to the Chester Eastside food pantry.  During this stay-at-home time, Barbara sends seed starting materials to any garden club child member who would like to grow flowers or herbs at home.   Special thanks to Barbara Nagel for her leadership of this critically needed ministry.  To donate or learn more about Outreach at Trinity, visit our Donate page and our Community Partnership and Outreach Ministries page.