A refugee harvests fresh zucchini from the garden at the Midwest Food Bank.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Plucking a large green zucchini from a vine at the Garden of Hope at Midwest Food Bank, a Chin woman stands up and proudly holds up the fruit of her labor.

It’s a joyful sign of how far this woman has come since fleeing her home country – and a harvest she’s grateful to share with others in need here in her adopted home of Indianapolis.

A community of close to 3,000 Burmese have taken refuge here after being allowed into the U.S. to escape religious persecution for their Christian faith in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

The transition wasn’t easy. The refugees, who are from both the Chin and Karen ethnic groups, did not speak any English – and since they spoke different dialects, could not even talk to each other. Finding work to support their families was nearly impossible. Before long, they were struggling to feed their families.

But with the help of the Midwest Food Bank and Operation Blessing, these families are now flourishing.

Roughly 50 percent of the Midwest Food Bank’s relief product comes from Operation Blessing – and with that support, they are able to distribute groceries and other essentials to over 100,000 people a month.

Approximately 3,000 Burmese have taken refuge in Indianapolis after being allowed into the U.S. to escape religious persecution in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

When the Food Bank’s staff heard about these Burmese families, they quickly reached out with food, drinks and diapers. They also sent a representative to talk to them and help them adapt to life in America. The refugees learned how to find a job, improve their English, and even how to pay bills.

After so much kindness, these families were eager to return the favor.

“A pastor from the Chin community came to me, and he said, with tears in his eyes, ‘You have given our people so much – is there any way we can give back?’ ” said John Whitaker, director of the Midwest Food Bank.

When Whitaker asked the man what the Chin could do, he replied, “We are farmers.” So the Food Bank set up an acre of land for the Chin community to farm vegetables to help the hungry in Indianapolis.

After receiving help from the Midwest Food Bank, refugees wanted an opportunity to give back. The Bank gave them an acre of land to farm vegetables and help the hungry in Indianapolis.

Now, zucchini, peppers, beans and tomatoes are growing beautifully under the experienced eye of the Chin farmers – and every harvest is split between the farmers’ families and the Food Bank.

The fresh, local produce helps supplement the more than 57,000 pounds of food distributed by the Food Bank and OBI each month. And the Chin take pride in giving back to the community they now call home.

“It’s a real testimony of what we need to see here in America,” said Whitaker. “Helping them sustain themselves, and then having them do what they can to help someone else.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, Operation Blessing brings nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty in America and around the world. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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