LIMA, OHIO -
Our Daily Bread soup kitchen serves meals to dozens of needy people each day with donated food. Now, the agency is working on a new way to serve more fresh produce.
Our Daily Bread started an experimental garden this year. The agency planted items such as peppers, tomatoes and squash. Agency director Stephen Jenkins says the garden has been a struggle this year due to the drought as well as gophers and rabbits. However, some vegetables have been picked from the garden located on the side and back portions of their Central Avenue building.
Supplies for the garden were donated, and plans are in place to install rain bins so water can be collected for the garden. Jenkins says the garden is part of a much larger effort. In the fall, the agency plans to hold cooking demonstrations to show people how to use different fruits and vegetables in their everyday meals.
Our Daily Bread has been busy this year. Jenkins says use of the soup kitchen has risen by eight percent compared to the same time period last year. That comes to about 1,600 more meals served.
