Working at the Montmorenci Church this week has given me a different idea of community. The community surrounding the church is actually a network of parishes working together to combat food insecurity. The Montmorenci serves as the location for a weekly community meal, a free community market with fresh produce, a daycare, and cooking education program. There are probably more programs; these are just the ones we saw.

The community in Candler does so much to support those with food insecurity, and their approach is something to be emulated. They have developed programs that take away the stigma associated with food insecurity and have created a fellowship and support system for those struggling with food insecurity.

Many of the people who utilize the programs at the church also help run them. Everyone helps clean up after the community meal, and many of the people who take from the community market are also the ones setting up and overseeing it. Knowing that the people providing the food assistance programs also need them seems to take away a lot of the negative emotions associated with food insecurity. Everyone knows everyone, and there is a shared concern for everyone’s wellbeing. It is easily felt by newcomers too. The community was more than happy to have us and doubly as happy to tell us so. They were eager to let us in on their projects and get to know us.

I wonder how different food insecurity would look in Springfield if the food security programs had a support system and sense of community like the ones at the Montmorenci Church.