Pharos-Tribune

Editorials

November 20, 2012

A great way to fight childhood hunger

Congratulations to the Cass County Resource Network and Thomas Henderson on their efforts to develop community gardens throughout the city.

Henderson is the founder of the ACTS project, American Communities Transitioning to Sustainability. His plan is to develop these gardens to create what he hopes will be a more sustainable economy and a healthier community.

The project has already obtained a plot of land in front of Ivy Tech, and it’s also working with neighborhood groups and local schools.

Childhood hunger is one of the key issues facing Cass County. More than half of the students in Logansport’s public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and educators say they know they have kids in their classrooms going to bed hungry. And the need is growing.

The Salvation Army provided food to more than 700 families last month, and representatives say they’re seeing a growing number of first time visitors to the food pantry. People who have never before been forced to ask for help now find themselves in that position.

The good news is the county is meeting this problem head on. The United of Way of Cass County joined with local educators to set up backpack programs at schools throughout the county, and now the resource network is working with Henderson on a plan for community gardens.

Henderson is no stranger to such efforts. Originally from South Carolina, he has helped create community gardens in cities such as New York and Nashville as a consultant for the United Methodist Church. He has an undergraduate degree in agriculture and master’s and doctoral degrees in theology.

Henderson says the work begins by educating people on organic and sustainable farming while putting together funding for farm equipment. The program then uses networking to find out what plots of land are available.

By spring, Henderson hopes to have volunteers and organic farmers-in-training planting crops, mainly vegetables. Then, the food will be sold in the community.

This program has great potential, and we hope to see it succeed.

Henderson says he’s encouraged by the support he has gotten so far, but he is still looking for more partners. If you’d like to get involved, drop Henderson a note or give him a call.

Want to help?

To obtain more information on the program or to sign up to help, contact Thomas Henderson, executive director of the ACTS Project. The address is 301 E. Broadway, Suite 205, Logansport IN 46947, and the telephone number is 574-870-6966.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Editorials
  • OUR VIEW: Scammers seek profit from tragedy

    We’re disgusted we even have to write this editorial.
    As residents of Oklahoma City and its suburbs barely start the process of picking themselves up off the ground, we’ve already received warnings from state police about scammers looking to make a quick buck off the misfortune of others.

    May 23, 2013

  • OUR VIEW: Move over for workers, Ind. drivers

    Most motorists already know that state law requires them to change lanes when approaching a stopped emergency or state highway vehicle when its emergency lights are flashing.

    May 22, 2013

  • OUR VIEW: Are you prepared for a disaster?

    As you read today’s final installment on disaster preparedness, which focuses on earthquakes and their very real threat right here in Indiana, we hope you take the message to heart and make the decision to prepare yourself. If you don’t, no one else will.

    May 19, 2013

  • THEIR VIEW: Big Brother looms large in D.C.

    The federal government, working under the cloak of secrecy, has been having a heyday at the expense of all Americans.
    First we learn the IRS has been targeting conservatives — applications for tax-exempt status by tea party groups were wrongly singled out for extra scrutiny.

    May 16, 2013

  • THEIR VIEW: Keep teens safe on the roadways

    Indiana was able to achieve welcome decreases in teen-driving deaths after adopting graduated driver’s license laws. But it appears some of the benefits of easing teen drivers more slowly into the responsibilities associated with driving are leveling off.

    May 15, 2013

  • THEIR VIEW: Indiana loses a respected leader

    At a time when our nation was deeply divided by war, social upheaval and political corruption, Otis R. “Doc” Bowen brought stability to Indiana in his eight years as governor largely through the strength of his personal integrity. He was respected, revered even, not only by fellow Republicans but also by independents and Democrats for his deep commitment to the state and its people.

    May 14, 2013

  • OUR VIEW: Litter problem not going away

    As press releases started rolling in recently about the 2013 Trash Bash, we were a little shocked at the amount of trash littering our highways.

    May 10, 2013

  • THEIR VIEW: Guard kids from caffeinated food

    So how gullible are we? Food manufacturers say their caffeine-pumped food is intended for adults. Included in those foods are Jelly Belly “Extreme Sport Beans,” which have 50 mg of caffeine in each 100-calorie pack. A cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine.

    May 9, 2013

  • OUR VIEW: Former students keep history alive

    History is a funny thing. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Sure you can go back and try to stitch the pieces together to make a record of a time and place, but the relics of the past are impossible to fully replace.

    May 8, 2013

  • THEIR VIEW: U.S. needs to take another look

    We welcome an investigation into the handling of intelligence related to suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing.

    May 7, 2013

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Featured Ads
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
AP Video
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50 Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones 9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Poll

After another deadly factory accident in Asia, are you willing to see American boycotts, even if it means you'll pay more for goods?

Yes
No
Undecided
     View Results