The community of Lowe Farm came together Oct. 3 in fellowship to put faith into action for the Lowe Farm harvest in support of Children’s Camps International and its Harvest for Kids initiative.
For the third straight year, local farmers, surrounded by friends and family, joined in a day filled with gratitude, purpose, and generosity.
Children’s Camps International currently has seven harvest projects across the Prairies, with Lowe Farm standing as the lone one in Manitoba, so it is a significant part of the initiative, shared the non-profit’s CEO Dave Thiessen.
“I think any one of them is important in many ways. It helps raise funds to send kids to camp, which is the number one goal,” he said. “But also for us, which is key and just as important, is the aspect of community that it creates.”
Thanks to a bountiful yield of 53.6 bushels per acre, this year’s Lowe Farm harvest will help send nearly 18,000 children in developing countries to Bible camps.
Last year’s efforts opened the doors for 10,000 children to experience the same opportunity.
Through the unwavering support of the community and the faith-filled hearts behind this initiative, thousands of young lives continue to be transformed, strengthening families, improving academic outcomes and building stronger communities rooted in hope, Thiessen said.
“We’re seeing farmers coming out together, a big meal in the field together. It’s almost like a celebration of community,” he said. “It’s the generosity of the community that creates it and makes it possible and gives us the ability to do it.”
He noted everyone involved donates their equipment and time, and everything else —such as the seed and other inputs and the use of the land—is all volunteered for the project.
“You have all these aspects come into play, and that’s why are able to do what we do,” said Thiessen. “It’s just so much because everybody is out there having fun together. They set aside all the world worries just to be able to get together for a great cause.”
Thousands of children annually attend CCI Bible camp programs tailored to their age, where they hear the Christian Gospel through songs, games, worship, and teaching.
After camp, each child is connected to a one-year follow-up program to support them in growing their faith.
Harvest for Kids is a way for producers to have a hand in this mission, and Thiessen said they would love to see more involvement, especially in Manitoba.
“We would love to add some more. We’re truly focused on bringing the Gospel to the kids and teaching the kids morals and feeding them and taking care of their needs.”
For more information, visit childrenscampsintl.com/harvestforkids.
