Community garden in Berkeley County helping to feed people in need

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A community garden in one Berkeley County community is helping to ensure people in need receive food and other necessities.

“We have a lot going on. We’ve been very blessed with a lot of volunteers,” said Melanie Lott, president of the Cordesville Community Citizens, which works with area churches to help with a variety of needs, like helping people get their GED or computer skills training.

They currently operate out of Cordesville First Baptist Church. Last year, they were discussing ways to feed the community.

“One of our citizens, Ms. Low Harelson, she stood up and she said, “Those people will be starved before you start that program,” so ironically enough, we started in June we served our very first meal on the first Friday in June,” she said.

They cook meals and deliver them to people in need. On the first Friday, they had 19 clients. 

“Last Friday our program served 81 people,” said Lott. “We have not missed a single Friday.”

They run a community garden to provide the food. They also fill some Blessing Boxes for those who need food.

Melvin Johnson is in charge of the community garden. “I just love to plant. God blessed me with a hand that can grow things. And I just love to grow,” he said.

They initially tested the soil and were told it would not be good for growing crops. But the crops grow very well at the hands of Mr. Johnson. 

“We feed people every Friday. We got homeless people all in the woods out here. I see them out walking in the street. We’ve got clothes, and food for them to come by and we just try to do what we are supposed to be doing what God put us here to do. If anybody else can give us any hand or help we sure appreciate it.”

You can learn more about the Cordesville Community Citizens group at their website.