What’s New With Bread Riot?
Learn about the latest work of Bread Riot volunteers and board members in this summer update.
From the President:
What a wonderful summer we’ve had distributing tons of food and benefiting the local farmers. The produce was so beautiful and so healthy. Our dedicated volunteers and donors made all this happen! From staffing tables at events, to standing out in the heat, to doing all the behind-the-scenes work for our La Cava fundraiser, to doing the organizing and paperwork—it was all volunteer! Then there were articles in The Salisbury Post and a great article in Salisbury the Magazine as well as on Facebook. It is so appreciated by the Board and by the community.
Of course, we don’t stop now. During August, we’re supplying fresh produce to Rowan Helping Ministries and to Community Care Clinic. Then we’ll have our “Riot at New Sarum” on September 9 and gear up for Winter Harvest Boxes and School Harvest Bags. Stay tuned!
Dottie Hoy, President
Community Events:
We've had so much fun meeting folks at community events this year! Bread Riot took part in the We Dig Salisbury tree giveaway in March, Earth Day Jam in April, the Juneteenth Celebration in June, and the Salisbury Pride Festival in June as well. For July and August, we've been setting up at the Salisbury Farmers Market as often as we can, and plan on being at the College Night Out on August 24.
At each event, we provide information about Bread Riot's mission, answer questions about volunteering, and offer a fun, all-ages activity. Have you played the seed matching game? Tried raw okra? Made an origami butterfly? The next time you are out at a local event, look for the Bread Riot banner and stop by and say hello!
Mark Your Calendar! Riot at New Sarum is Saturday, September 9 from 4–10 pm.
Come out to support Bread Riot and enjoy an evening of local music, local beer, local goods and local fun! This is our main fall fundraiser at New Sarum Brewing Company in Salisbury, and we'll have food trucks, craft vendors, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and Bread Riot gear. Featured bands include The Stokes, CJ Sunshine Band, Fall Lift, Dave & Court, and No. 9 Coal.
Summer Feed: Distributing produce to those who may not have access
Imagine a child holding a huge heirloom tomato asking to take a bite right then. Or elderly women who are so happy to see you that they will help you unload a car full of vegetables and books so they can help you prepare to hand out food. And seeing children excited about getting a couple of books each week…real books, nothing electronic! We do not have to imagine these things because we saw it each week at Matika Village, Brookview Apartments, East Lafayette Apartments, At the Cross Ministries, and Wiley School Apartments. Bread Riot was able to give out fresh vegetables, eggs, and sometimes flowers/herbs to children, their families, and other residents from Correll Farms, Elium Farm, Seven Sisters Farm, Farmer's Daughter Organics, Twin Oaks Farm, Two Pigs Farm, and Hidden Leaf Farms.
Each week when we opened the boxes of food, it was like opening a treasure chest to see what had been sent from the farmers. And the excitement from residents when they saw the fresh food each week was so rewarding.
As we made plans this year, we realized quickly the necessity to be flexible. The first week, we discovered Rowan-Salisbury Schools Nutrition Program had changed the routes. We had to quickly change the times for Brookview and East Lafayette, but we discovered that the folks at Brookview offered to spread the word about when we would be there and people were ready for us. When we had to change farms due to delivery problems, we discovered a farm that jumped right in letting us know how happy they were to be asked to help. Then we found a way to get eggs at a great price, and the farmer was thrilled to supply us with 12 dozen eggs each week. And our volunteers! What can we say about people who adjust their schedules and times right along with us so the food is delivered on time? And those regulars who came each week to help. How wonderful to watch relationships develop between our volunteers and our residents. Thank you to all who helped!
If you ever want to feel good about your volunteer possibilities, give time to the Summer Feed Program. It is definitely a rewarding way to spend some time during the summer.
We were able to provide all this fresh produce thanks to the generosity of the Salisbury-Rowan Community Foundation.
Faith Harvest:
Faith Harvest continues to be purposeful and our recipients are grateful to be able to share this bounty in their faith communities because of the efforts of Bread Riot.
They comment on the freshness and the fact that it is a local effort where everyone benefits and needs are met from the farm to the table.
The churches appreciate the grant from the Robertson Foundation that made this all possible.
Sustainability Book Club:
Bread Riot's Sustainability Book Club meets on Zoom the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 in the evening. The format of the group is casual, yet serious about discussing the content of the books. Even if everyone hasn’t read that month’s selection, members feel free to ask questions, comment during discussion, and generally interact with both intelligence and humor. The 2023 summer/fall list of books includes the following:
June - Wastelands by Corban Addison
July - How to Be a Conscious Eater by Sophie Egan
August - The Carbon Almanac edited by Seth Godin
September - The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone
October - The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr
Books may be obtained at the South Main Book Company, the library, or from members who may have extra copies. Suggested titles for the remainder of this year and into 2024 are welcome, as are new and former members. Please contact info@breadriot.org to be added to the email list.
La Cava Dinner:
Recently, we partnered with La Cava Restaurant and 13 local farmers to provide a seven-course farm to fork dinner. The food was outstanding, with each course paired with a wonderful wine and locally produced meat, cheese, vegetables, fruit and flowers.
This was something new for us, but we hope to be able to expand this idea and partner with more restaurants to provide locally sourced meals.
Thanks to our sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Graham, Dr. and Mrs. Don Fortner and La Familia Moscardini, as well as all our farmers, Jones Family Acres, Two Pigs Farm, Hopeful Acres Farm, Fading D Farm, Correll Farms, Farmer's Daughter Organics, Miller Farm, Barbee Farm, Elium Farm, Seven Sisters Farm, Twin Oak Farm, Church Creek Farm, and Terry's Bees. Please visit the local farmers markets or local farms and buy local.
We'll keep you posted on our next event!
Mobile Vegetable Market
The Mobile Vegetable Market began last year to further support our farmers and as a way to get fresh produce to people who might not go to the farmers market. We selected the parking lot of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on South Main Street because of the diversity of people who patronize that store as well as residents of the neighborhood. The Mobile Vegetable Market is donation based using the motto “Take what you need; Give what you can.”
This year, thanks to the Woodson Foundation, we were “open” every Saturday in June and July, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Customers, ranging in number from 25 to 40 each week, were very excited to have fresh local produce and donated as they were able. We soon had repeat customers. We appreciated the store personnel who frequently announced our presence. We could not have done this without the 4 to 6 volunteers who helped each week.
We will have plenty of volunteer opportunities this fall. Thank you all!
Our Board
Dottie Hoy, President
Trish Dunn, Vice-President
Catherine Dalton, Treasurer
Carol Schmitz-Corken, Secretary
Members at Large
Teri Davies
Mary Ducksworth
Dee Ellison
Jessica Moorman
CJ Peters
Brian Pfaff
Andrew Pitner
Steve Puckett
