2021: A Year in Review

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

Community Gardens

Men’s Health Week and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
Men’s Health Week and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
Jun 11, 2014
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Men’s Health Week and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

There’s lots to celebrate this month. Besides my birthday (smile), the month of June is when we observe Men’s Health Week and National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. These two issues, each important enough on their own, also overlap as men are encouraged to eat nutritious, well-balanced meals in order to remain healthy and strong. Our nation’s dietary guidelines are updated every five years, with the most recent set of guidelines released in 2010. In this report, the US Department of Agriculture advises both men and women to…
Bread: Embodying Justice
Bread: Embodying Justice
Mar 10, 2014
Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

Bread: Embodying Justice

Shannon Axtell Martin, Regional Consultant, Partners in Health & Wholeness

There is nothing like the aroma of bread baking, and the incredibly comforting and satisfying taste of warm, fresh bread. From “give us this day our daily bread” to “I am the bread of heaven” to the feeding of the 5,000 to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, this seemingly simple food is so theologically rich. It is used to represent Christ’s body, God’s provision of manna in the wilderness, and livelihood in general.
Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property
Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property
Jul 9, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Laurinburg Presbyterian Lets People Grow Food on its Property

The Fayetteville Observer

Sam Thompson was looking for a sunny spot to plant tomatoes. He ended up leading an award-winning community revolution. Thompson, an elder at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, pitched the idea of a community garden to the church six years ago. What began as a creative use for otherwise empty church property was recently awarded an equipment grant by the North Carolina Council of Churches and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “We’re using the grant funds to dig a well,” Thompson said. “Wouldn’t you know this would be the wettest June in years.”
Grant to Strengthen Community Garden Program
Grant to Strengthen Community Garden Program
Jul 4, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Grant to Strengthen Community Garden Program

Winston-Salem Chronicle

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Foundation has partnered with the North Carolina Council of Churches to provide grants to faith-based organizations to help them supply healthy eating alternatives to their members and underserved communities.

United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church (UMMBC) is one of 20 faith-based organizations that have received a $5,000 Healthy Eating Equipment Grant. The church will use the grant to purchase much needed equipment and supplies to support the 10 gardens that now comprise the S.G. Atkins Community Gardens at Winston-Salem State University.
Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant
Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant
Jul 3, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Piney Grove Baptist Ministries Helped with Healthy Eating Equipment Grant

Mt. Airy News

Piney Grove Baptist Church’s food ministries recently got a boost from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC) in the form of a $5,000 healthy eating equipment grant. The effort is a partnership between BCBSNC and the North Carolina Council of Churches to provide equipment for 20 faith-based organizations to bring healthier food to their members and communities. More than $90,000 in equipment grants are being used to provide canning and cooking supplies, expand church community gardens and increase storage for fresh produce.
Agricultural Policy: Legislative Seminar Workshop by Scott Marlow
Agricultural Policy: Legislative Seminar Workshop by Scott Marlow
May 15, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Agricultural Policy: Legislative Seminar Workshop by Scott Marlow

This workshop on agricultural policy, from our 2013 Legislative Seminar on April 11, covers a wide range of topics – from the US Farm Bill to fracking to the meaning of “local” and “sustainable” food. Scott Marlow led the workshop. Scott currently serves as Executive Director of the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI). His specialty is financial infrastructure, including access to credit and risk management for value-added producers. He previously directed RAFI’s Farm Sustainability program, providing in-depth financial counseling to farmers in crisis, education on disaster assistance programs and access to credit, and addressing the needs of mid-scale farmers who are increasing the sustainability of their farms by transitioning to higher-value specialty markets.
Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County
Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County
Jan 7, 2013
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Looking for Community Sparkplugs for a Healthier Wilson County

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and The Rensselaerville Institute are looking for individuals with project ideas for creating a healthier Wilson County. Projects will be implemented over the next 6 months and must focus on increasing physical activity and/or access to and consumption of fresh produce.

Selected Community Sparkplugs and their teams will receive the following: a $3,000 grant (simple application process), individualized help to create an action plan and set project results, support and coaching over the next 6 months, and an opportunity to become part of a growing network of Community Sparkplugs across North Carolina.

Faith and Weight Loss: NC Churches Encourage Members to be Healthy
Faith and Weight Loss: NC Churches Encourage Members to be Healthy
Dec 31, 2012
Willona Stallings, Former Program Coordinator – Partners in Health & Wholeness

Faith and Weight Loss: NC Churches Encourage Members to be Healthy

Public News Service – NC

Weight loss is the most popular New Year’s resolution being made by North Carolinians and people around the country, according to new data from the University of Scranton. The goal of being healthier is even making its way into churches around the state, through a program sponsored by the North Carolina Council of Churches.

Caring for Creation: Charlotte churches plant gardens, add solar panels and join others trying to protect the planet
Caring for Creation: Charlotte churches plant gardens, add solar panels and join others trying to protect the planet
Feb 18, 2012
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Caring for Creation: Charlotte churches plant gardens, add solar panels and join others trying to protect the planet

Charlotte Observer

Even in February, there’s a lot happening in the community garden at Central United Methodist church in east Charlotte.

A few of the 24 plots still have winter vegetables to harvest. Gardeners are building pea trellises and clearing the ground to start planting early crops.

Langston Denny, a prayer leader at the church, is building a new compost bin. He’s arranged for a local restaurant to give him its lettuce, coffee grounds and eggshells that would otherwise go to waste.

Central United is part of a growing movement among faith groups – in Charlotte and around the nation – that embrace environmental conservation as a way to care for God’s creation and for neighbors in need.
Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands
Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands
Aug 19, 2011
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Raleigh News & Observer: Community gardens are in residents’ hands

The Council has long been touting the benefits of community gardening in both urban and rural settings alike. Community gardens offer healthy local foods that are often more nutritious than their grocery-story or food-bank counterparts. Gardens also help community members become more active, and they are a great way for congregations, local organizations and neighborhoods to collaborate together. Last Sunday the Raleigh News & Observer highlighted this growing movement, using the example of Highland United Methodist Church.