Blustery winds did not deter the chickens and nor the children who mingled on the IFFS Teaching Farm bright and early Monday morning. As part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, parents and children from Follow the Child Montessori school came out to the farm to learn about the chickens and the goats, and, “to teach the kids how everything in nature is so interconnected, ” as one mom, Amanda Dawson, put it. Amanda’s daughter, first grader Morgan McMullin, was particularly enamored of the goats. IFFS staffer, Joshua Paxson, orchestrated the move of a portable goat pen by having each person pick up a part of the fence all at once and move it in unison. Then came the “goat release”, where the goats were lured from one pen to another by following a pail of food carried by one of the children.

Meanwhile, children lined up at Marbles Kids Museum to learn about “Helping Heroes”— people and organizations in our community who are here to serve others. Kids got the chance to be a “helping hero” themselves by packing bags full of healthy food for the IFFS BackPack Buddies Program. The Rex family—Mom Sara, Dad Ted, and children Harriet and Atticus—volunteered by greeting participants and guiding them along the rows of tables stocked with food to pack each backpack.

“ A lot of kids at Harriet’s school (Poe Elementary) receive Backpack Buddies and I wanted her to see what goes into making those backpack meals. I want the kids to see that volunteering to help others is a healthy part of life.”

Kids and parents alike got to make their own contributions to hunger-relief in Durham, as well, donating food at the Children's Birthday Party for MLK thrown by NC Moms Rising at Northgate Mall, and helping PORCH-Durham unload and sort donated food at the IFFS Durham Service Center, also at Northgate Mall!

In the afternoon, volunteers from the NC Justice Center got their hands dirty helping us with all matters compost at our Hoke Street Training Center! Enjoying both the sunny weather and the opportunity to get involved in their community, they sifted and moved piles of compost to create nutrient-rich soil for growing nutrient-rich food, and they prepared beds that come Spring will be filled with beautiful flowers!