Corner of Hope Foods Resource Bank local growing project observes 10th year of existence

The local Foods Resource Bank Growing Project known as Corner of Hope is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and much like the crops planted and harvested to provide the foundation for it, the project that helps to combat world hunger itself continues to grow year after year.
From an initial return of $11,150 off of 20 donated acres in its first year in 2005 to a record of $61,500 paid forward in 2012, in its first nine years of existence the local Corner of Hope growing project has averaged just under $33,000 per year in funds disbursed to Foods Resource Bank in an effort to alleviate world hunger. Foods Resource Bank distributes the funds equally between three programs that help developing countries establish their own agricultural projects that will, in turn, help the people of those countries feed themselves.
The Foods Resource Bank is a Christian-based organization that works to mobilize and increase the resources needed to support agricultural food security programs in some of the world's poorest villages. In the United States, community "growing projects" raise a crop or other marketable resource, harvest it and convert it into cash to make available to Foods Resource Bank. These financial resources are provided to the implementing members of Foods Resource Bank, who work with their partners worldwide to help local communities become self-sufficient and food-secure, producing enough to feed themselves.
"Farmers on the committee have repeatedly stated that they are so blessed to live and farm here in this most productive area that they feel they must share in this 'Christian Response to World Hunger'," said inaugural Corner of Hope Chairperson John Prestemon.
The local efforts to first become involved with a Foods Resource Bank growing project began in the early spring of 2005 when Waukon's Zion United Church of Christ's former pastor Dick Eick and his wife, Carol, presented the idea to some of their parishioners after talking with Rev. Joan Fumetti, Foods Resource Bank Growing Project Coordinator based out of Des Moines. Correspondence was then sent out to all area churches in regard to an initial meeting to determine the level of participation interest.
Approximately two dozen individuals attended an initial ecumenical meeting, where leadership for the local organization was established. John Prestemon agreed to serve as chairperson, Ron Snitker took on the duties of treasurer, Sheryl Prestemon became secretary, and Carol Eick assumed the role of publicity chairperson.
"The Corner of Hope committee is one of the more rewarding committees that I have been a part of," shared Ron Snitker, treasurer for the local Corner of Hope Committee since its inception. "It fulfills what Matthew 25 tells us about serving others less fortunate than us."
To help further put those initial organizational efforts into motion, Larry Snitker offered 20 acres of land at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Hwy. 51 west of Waukon that would become the initial plot for the local growing project. It was also Larry Snitker who came up with the idea of the name for the local effort, noting that since the donated land was located at the corner of the highway intersection and geographically located in the northeast corner of the state of Iowa, the name "Corner of Hope" seemed very appropriate - an idea widely agreed upon and then put into action.
Helping spur those local organizational efforts was the partnership with Foods Resource Bank that allowed those with local interest to not only help feed people in developing countries but also help them learn how to feed themselves. "Foods Resource Bank works through existing Christian organizations in progress that improve water resources, seeds and fertilizer, farming methods, credit availability, etc. with the goal of providing long-term hunger relief and the pride that comes with self-accomplishment," commented John Prestemon.
With the ecumenical foundation of the local growing project, Corner of Hope has directed Foods Resource Bank to distribute the net income from its annual growing efforts equally between three of its world hunger relief implementing members. As diverse as the 10 to 15 local churches that have come to be involved with the project throughout the program's first 10 years, those implementing members passing on the benefits of local production have included Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief and Catholic Relief Services.
"Our Corner of Hope committee is unique in its ecumenical involvement of so many different local denominations," Ron Snitker said.
The outcome of those first-year efforts in 2005 resulted in $11,150 being contributed to the relief efforts of the network mentioned above, but just like the crops planted and harvested each year with the project, the interest, involvement and, in most cases, the end result, have also continued to grow. Frank and Carol Sivesind made 40 acres of land available for the project the following year, and the resulting benefit nearly doubled as well, to $20,070.
That continued growth climaxed at a record gift of $61,500 following the 2012 harvest season and has resulted in a total of $295,830 being donated to world hunger relief efforts throughout the local growing project's nine years of existence. And the growth in final dollar amounts has been a direct result of the continued generosity of project highs of as many as eight local producers offering as much as a combined 60 acres of productive land.
"While some plots of ground have been a part of Corner of Hope for several years, many farmers choose to participate for only a year or two, and this is all that is expected," John Prestemon commented. "The committee, therefore, is always looking for new participants to enjoy the good feeling that comes from doing what they can to help end world hunger."
John Prestemon says plots of land for the project of any size are welcome and arrangements can be very flexible. Interested participants are asked to contact Dave Prestemon, current chairperson, at 563-535-7448 or any member of the Corner of Hope committee. "Some farmers have chosen to deliver a load of corn to the elevator designated for Corner of Hope, instead of donating land," John Prestemon said. "Some have donated the land, and sometimes Corner of Hope has paid a reasonable rental fee to the owners."
While land is certainly an essential part of the Corner of Hope process, a great deal of other contributions have also been essential to the success of the local growing project. Donations of seed, chemicals, fertilizer and labor efforts of tilling, planting and harvesting have also allowed the Corner of Hope Foods Resource Bank local growing project to become the success that it has. John Prestemon says that key support for the project in many forms has also come from area banks, agribusinesses, churches and other organizations and individuals.
"The Corner of Hope committee feels very strongly that a big reason for the project's success is its ecumenical participation and support," John Prestemon shared. "Foods Resource Bank tells us that this broad sponsorship is very unusual and highly commendable."
Current members of the Corner of Hope committee include Chairperson Dave Prestemon; Vice Chairperson Dennis Byrnes; Co-Publicist, Historian and Secretary Linda Carstens; Co-Publicist Nona Sawyer; and Treasurer Ron Snitker. Other members of the committee include Larry Straate, Adam Quandahl, Walter Halvorson, Tom and Cindy Duvel, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Gordon Ellingson, Jeremy Peake, Pastor Samantha Houser and Pastor Tom Buresh. Anyone with an interest in agriculture and ending world hunger is encouraged to join the committee and can contact any of the members listed above.