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Outreach Farm
Out Reach Farm
Feeding both physical and spiritual needs in Pawleys Island
Feeding the world may be impossible for a single individual, but feeding a small corner of the world—in this case, parts of the South Carolina Lowcountry—is a mission that is not only possible, but is a reality. Georgetown County-based Outreach Farm, the only non-profit organization of its kind in America, raises high-quality beef cattle to feed the hungry in 10 coastal counties —at no cost. That includes providing enough beef for 25,000 meals in 2007 alone.
Outreach Farm proves what can be accomplished with very little for those who need very much. It accomplishes this from its main 654-acre farm on Route 512 in Hemingway, a mile west of Route 41, another 107 leased acres nearby, and a 25-acre facility on Waverly Road a half mile west of Kings River Road in Pawleys Island, used specifically for summer grazing.
Outreach Farm is the realized dream of Michael LoVullo, a local home builder who came to South Carolina from Vermont, a state known for its beef. In Vermont, LoVullo volunteered as a cook at a homeless mission. Seeing how protein was in such short supply among Georgetown County organizations (and beyond) that feed the hungry, LoVullo stepped up to fill the need.
More than 6% of South Carolina households have "very low food security" according to a 2005 U.S. Department of Agriculture survey. As quality meat is the most expensive part of a balanced diet, poor American families often cut back to make ends meet, to the detriment of children. This is the highest percentage of families unable to sustain normal eating patterns of any state in the nation, well above the national average of 3.8%.
Outreach Farm’s ground beef includes all prime cuts for maximum quality and the herd now includes cows, heifers, calves and bulls. Recipients of their quality beef presently include: Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Century 21 community center; Father Pat’s Lunch Kitchen at Precious Blood Catholic Church, Pawleys Island; Teach My People, a community center in Pawleys Island; Friendship Place, a soup kitchen at St. Cyprian’s Church in Georgetown; Myrtle Beach Community Kitchen, a soup kitchen feeding the needy; Street Reach of Myrtle Beach; Waccamaw Youth Center, a community center for youth in Conway; Crisis Ministries, a soup kitchen in Charleston; and Tara Hall, a residence for boys near Hemingway. The boys from Tara Hall are among the volunteer laborers at the farm who help grow potatoes, peanuts, onions, watermelon and others crops as well as deliver beef to other charities.
Outreach Farm began in 2003 with only three cows. The organization purchased more cows and farming equipment with contributions from many sources including fundraisers, personal gifts and grants. The farm now has about 65 head of cattle thanks to dedicated breeding, and works to increase the herd each year so they can feed more people in need.
"In 2008 Outreach Farm provided over 42,000 meals to those in need and our goal for 09 is another 45,000," says Jack Welde, a real estate agent since 2000 with the Litchfield Company and Outreach Farm volunteer along with his wife Kathy. "This is a great ministry doing good work for those in need, doing it well and efficiently." He should know as Kathy, a retired math teacher, is the organization’s treasurer.
Welde met Outreach Farm founder Mike LoVullo when he was helping at St. Cyprian’s soup kitchen and knew LoVullo was a good fellow and committed to a cause. As a realtor/builder team, Welde and LoVullo have partnered in building 20 homes in the Litchfield/Pawleys Island area, so it really says something that they also work together after business hours on such a worthy project as Outreach Farm.
"It has been amazing to see the progress," Welde says. "Starting with three cows six short years ago, we now have 65 head and two donkeys that protect the herd from barking dogs so that nursing mothers don’t stop feeding babies because of nerves."
Outreach Farm’s ability to feed the poor was recognized by South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond in the 13 Annual Angels & Scrooges awards for 2008, which lauded South Carolina organizations that exemplify charitable giving. As the award is based on the percentage of program expenses (98.8%) that go toward program activities, Outreach Farm donors can be confident their donations are maximized in feeding the poor.
Committed to maximizing its donations, Outreach Farm acomplishes its goals with one paid full-time employee; additional farm and adminstrative work is accomplished by more than 50 volunteers. Several of the Board of Directors volunteer in staff capacities including bookkeeping, grant writing and fund raising events such as the annual November 'Run Til the Cows Come Home 5 kilometer road race that starts at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Pawleys Island. Other volunteers collectively raise more than 43,000 servings of beef a year.
"Seeing hungry people turned away because there is not enough food...[volunteering at Outreach Farm] is something that you have to do," says Reverend Nels Ledwell of Waccamaw United Methodist Church.
Outreach Farms is a hands-on organization so if you want to learn more, call Stephen Lowe, President of the Board of Directors at 843-235-6967 or visit their website in the link above. Send you tax deductible donations to Outreach Farm PO Box 644, Pawleys Island, SC 29585. |
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G Royce King •
The Litchfield Company Real Estate Sales •
843.237.4000 • Toll-free 800.476.2861
14240 Ocean Highway 17 • P.O. Box 97 • Pawleys Island,
SC 29585
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