Gary’s Faith Farms CDC celebrates Food Bank grant to launch flash freezing facility

Reposted from The Post Tribune (09/29/22)

The Rev. Curtis Whittaker said he knew nothing about growing food nine years ago when he had a vision to start the garden that became Faith Farms CDC.

On Monday, a raised garden bed at the Gary urban farm was surrounded by local dignitaries with trowels in their hands as they planted seeds to celebrate a new partnership between the urban garden and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, thanks to the support of the Feeding America Food Security Equity Impact Fund, is giving a $425,000 grant to Faith CDC for an initiative to build a flash freezing facility to capture the extra fresh produce grown at the farm.

“Today we are not just planting physical seeds, we are planting the seeds of change,” the Rev. Curtis Whittaker told the group as he presided over the seed planting ceremony.

He welcomed the dignitaries and partners such as the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana among others to the farm to announce the receipt of the grant that will launch the Faith Fresh Frozen Foundation.

“This used to be abandoned houses,” Whittaker told those gathered at the garden near rows of end of season produce, including collard greens, rhubarb, tomatoes and Brussels sprouts. Fast forward to today, Whittaker said the farm grows over 15,000 pounds of a food a year.

The new project will give Faith Farms the ability to flash freeze extra produce so it does not go to waste. The facility will be constructed in an abandoned building at 576 Carolina St., down the block from the farm.

Workers will freeze the produce shortly after it is picked, bag it and label it for distribution. Whittaker said 20 percent of the frozen food will go to the food bank for distribution among its clients. The remainder will be used to support a micro business social enterprise providing jobs for the community.

“Part of this grant gives us the ability to hire some people,” Whittaker said.

The Emerson neighborhood where the church and farm are located has a special place in Whittaker’s heart. The pastor said he grew up in the neighborhood where the median annual household income today is $13,000. Jobs at the facility will be part time and pay about $20,000 a year.

“I want to be able to lift the economics of the neighborhood,” Whittaker said.

Whittaker said the goal is to raise between $3 and $5 million for the project, which is expected to take about three years to complete. A $75,000 grant from a private donor has also been dedicated to the work. The project will use local Black contractors and subcontractors to perform the work, he said,

“Everyone working on the project will look like me and will look like the people in this neighborhood,” Whittaker said.

“This is only the beginning. Tomorrow, we get to work,” Whittaker said.

Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, said the Food Bank and city partnered earlier this year to launch the Gary street outreach program which provides dozens of meals and snack bags to the city’s homeless five days a week. The frozen food initiative is their latest collaboration.

The Food Bank provides food to more than 600,000 people each year with the help of between 6,000 and 7,000 volunteers. Last year it distributed 9.7 million pounds of food. The frozen food from Faith Farm will help it continue to meet its mission.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, was among those attending the ceremony and planting a seed. He said the partnership shows what can be done in the community.

“It’s more than the dollar figure. It’s the belief that when we all come together we can make a difference,” Mrvan said.

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said it was a great moment for Gary and for Whittaker, whom he has known for many years. The project is a realization of the view Whittaker has shared for a long time.

“Gary is not only a health desert, it is a food desert,” Smith said. The farm helps bring healthy, fresh food to those who may not be able to obtain it otherwise, he said.

State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, recalled going to bed with an empty stomach as a child and not knowing that was normal.

“The initiative happening here today will make sure our children don’t go to be with an empty stomach,” he said. If the effort is successful, he would like to see it replicated throughout the county.

Mayor Jerome Prince said efforts like this are what helps a community to continue to grow.

“The fact that (Whittaker) stepped up to take part of rebuilding the community speaks volumes,” Prince said.

Gary Common Council President William Godwin, D-1, said the city can support the work with its American Rescue Plan Act funding, which allows spending on public health initiatives. He lauded the energy of volunteers including farm administrator Frieda Graves, who can be seen working at the farm every day.

He said he is looking forward to see what the council can do to boost Whittaker’s efforts.

Lake County Councilman Charlie Brown, D-Gary, also lauded Whittaker and the efforts by the church the past nine years.

“This could happen all over the city of Gary, the state of Indiana and the County of Lake. I’ll do my part to make sure it’s replicated,” Brown said.

“We need to get people involved. We need to stop letting people talk badly about the city of Gary,” Brown said to applause. “We need to do everything we possibly can to make sure Gary is successful.”