Members of The Presbyterian Church of Palatine consider their large vegetable garden — located in front of the church at the intersection of Palatine and Rohlwing Roads — to be a ministry. After all, they have been tending their plots for 20 years now, and donating all of its fresh vegetables to the Palatine Township Food Pantry.
“It’s amazing,” says Sandra Westlund-Deenihan, coordinator of the food pantry. “We’ve been able to offer our clients a beautiful selection of fresh vegetables and let them focus on healthy eating. It shows a true community spirit.”
Lyn Nawrot coordinates volunteers for the garden at the Presbyterian Church. She and others have been involved all 20 years and increasingly, their ministry is drawing others to join them. Nearby congregations such as Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows have started garden ministries.
The Korean congregation, Praise Church, tends one of the plots at the Presbyterian church, along with Monte de Sion, a Spanish speaking congregation, which tends another one. A local Hungarian school, Csik Hago, returns to help with the cleanup at the end of the season.
Lyn Nawrot harvests some beans.
“That’s what I like most about (the gardening ministry),” Nawrot says, “that it’s become a community effort.”
As an avid gardener, Nawrot saw all the land in front of the church and saw possibilities. What started with six garden beds grew to eight raised beds, thanks to the help of a local Eagle Scout who built them. Ten years later, another Eagle Scout candidate replaced the raised beds with even sturdier ones.
Each year, gardeners grow traditional vegetables, which flourish. This year’s crop includes: tomatoes, different types of squash, cucumbers, onions, garlic, beans, lettuce, cabbage and rhubarb. They also planted herbs, including sage, rosemary, cilantro, basil and dill.
Church members bring the produce to the food pantry once a week, which in recent years has expanded to include refrigerators and freezers. With several other faith communities donating fresh produce, along with some retailers, such as Costco, they are able to provide meat, dairy, produce and even fresh flowers.
Numbers have grown too, with an average of 550 families or individuals visiting the pantry each month, township officials say.
“The fresh produce makes such an impact,” Westlund-Deenihan says. “So many of our clients have health issues, so we’re happy to have this beautiful assortment and help them heal. People can choose what they want. It really makes our clients feel normal, like old times. It just provides comfort.”
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