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Winnipeg, Man.
Grain donations connect farmers in Canada and Ethiopia


George Vaneerden headed onto his fields this spring to sow 750 acres of canola, barley and oats, something he’s done for nearly 20 years. His mixed grain and beef cattle farm in La Glace, Alta., provides enough income to feed his family, with a little extra to donate to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

The Winnipeg-based Christian organization in turn provides food aid and development assistance to the world’s hungry.

For the last three years, Vaneerden has helped organize a community growing project for CFGB, bringing people together from a number of churches in this farming area near Grande Prairie. Proceeds from their field of wheat have been given to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, one of 13 church members of CFGB.

So far in 2000, CFGB member agencies have sent 17,835 tonnes of grain to Ethiopia. About one-third of that amount is going to food-for-work development projects; the rest is being distributed as relief food to help tide people over to the next harvest.

Vaneerden said he would love to one day visit Ethiopia for himself to learn more about the challenges of farming in that country. For now, he is satisfied with yearly donations to CFGB, which he says he trusts is getting the food to people who most need it.

 – Carol Thiessen, MCC

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Last modified September 20, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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