Through their community garden, First United Methodist Church was actively providing fresh fruits and vegetables for their community. They were looking for a way to provide healthy protein and decided to raise chickens for eggs. Eggs are a nutritious source of sustainable, high-quality protein. They make for a great protein donation since they have a long shelf life and can be used for many things.

With support from the community, 24 hens were donated to the ministry. Using a grant from Resourceful Communities and expertise from a few church members, a coop and a spacious run were built for the hens. In less than a year, the ministry donated a total of 5,000 eggs to the Hickory Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, and homebound individuals in their community. Additionally, through the grant, First UMC-Hickory was able to create two paid, year-round positions to take care of the garden and the hens. Being able to provide jobs for their community was another important goal for the ministry along with providing healthy foods.

First UMC-Hickory is also using the chickens to create a ministry that teaches and promotes good environmental stewardship while strengthening the local food system. They’ve partnered with their local Cooperative Extension to provide onsite space to educate people about backyard chicken farming. Their garden also serves as a site where youth clubs, such as Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, come and visit to learn about local food production.

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First UMC-Hickory has a strong history of providing for their community – they grow 75% of fresh produce used by the Hickory Soup Kitchen.  Jamie Hawley, the Faith Community Nurse, estimates that the ministry feeds about 500-600 people a month through several initiatives, including their monthly community meal.