For seven years, the Eden Gleaning and Garden Project has been dedicated to growing and gleaning fresh produce that is delivered to food ministries in St. Louis food deserts. In September of this year, your Foundation was honored to present Eden Theological Seminary with a $2,500 ministry grant to continue funding this important ministry. From April to September, the project harvested over 4,000 pounds of asparagus, sweet corn, potatoes, and broccoli. That’s more than $5000 worth of healthy food to be donated to food ministries in the St. Louis region! But this year’s harvest held an even deeper meaning to the community.
On September 30, the Eden Gleaning and Garden Project hosted a dedication ceremony, renaming the Eden Garden to become the Pat Penelton Garden. Ms. Penelton, the main force behind the Centennial Christian Church food ministry and a major recipient of the produce from the Eden Garden and the gleaned produce, died in her church during a tornado on May 16, 2025. A reporter from National Public Radio attended the dedication and the story can be found here: https://bit.ly/485PHEk
This year’s gleaning season was affected by dry weather and a poor growing season, decreasing the gleaning outcome. Nonetheless, the project has continued to supply much-needed food to area food ministries, and will continue the work into November. And although the gleaning outcome was less than expected for the year, the Pat’s Place garden has flourished. This year, the garden produced much more than the previous year, supplying collards, kale, tomatoes, and peppers to food ministries.
What are YOU dreaming of for YOUR church?
Twice each year, the Foundation Board receives and considers proposals for ministry projects from United Methodist churches and related agencies throughout Missouri. Applications can be found here, and must be postmarked by April 1 for Spring consideration and October 1 for Winter consideration.