A place to grow communities.
Churches and Communities working together to rebuild and renew community life.
Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
Seek the Shalom of the community where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its shalom, you will find your shalom.
--Jeremiah 29:5-7
Westside Shalom Initiative Gardens
For the past two years we have worked as the "westside Shalom Initiative", a group of churches, businesses and volunteers whose primary project has been to develop a COMMUNITY GARDEN whose produce was used to help at various local agencies, including the Gospel Mission, the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Mary Treglia Community center, the Soup Kitchen, Shesler Hall The Center, Siouxland Tri-State Food Bank and to help elderly residents in various neighborhoods on the westside.
In 2001, we also participated in Sioux City's Adopt-A-Lot program. We had responsibility for a number of vacant lots and had moderate success in involving the community in their care. Thanks to a few faithful volunteers, we were able to harvest food that met the needs of many in out community.
What is new this year?
As a part of its Community Outreach Ministries, Whitfield United Methodist Church is working with other Communities of Shalom throught Iowa to become a certified "Shalom Zone" site under the guidelines of the General Board of Global Ministries, which state:
"A Shalom Zone is a defined geographic area within the community in which churches work toward systemic change by collaboration with community organizations and community residents to develop economic prosperity; coordinate community resources : empower community leaders and residents to plan for their communit's future; and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ."
We invite you to join us in making the westside a community of Shalom
How are we going to work?
We will comtinue the community garden concept this year, focusing on the Adopt-A-Lot sites.
We propose that churches or community groups supervise the gardens this year, using the harvest to benefit others, not for profit.
We will work toward empowering members of our community by making the gardesn "belong" to the residents of the community.
We wil model cooperation and commitment to each other and to our community as we work together.
Questions?? Or Ideas !
Contact
Shalom Chairperson, Judy Wanned
233-1676
or
Rev. Neva Thorn Perdue
252-3261
Or
Who has been involved?? Who is invited?
Some organizations who have participated during the past two years include:
Apostolic Faith Tabernacle Church
Crescent Park united Methodist Church
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Mayflower Congregationsl Church
St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church
Spitit of the Hills United Methodist Church
Whitfield United Methodist Church
Career Solutions Inc.
Girls' Inc.
Goodwill Industries
Westside Coalitiion
Westside ACTION
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We welcome any individual or group who wishes to participate in our vision of Shalom For the Westside. We meet the 4th Monday of every month at 6:30 pm at Whitfield UMC, 13196 W. 5th St.
For more information, Call 252-3261
