Pastor tackles food insecurity by bringing fresh food to churches in Baltimore and beyond

After seeing how many of his parishioners were sick because of their diets, and who did not have access to fresh, healthy food, Rev. Heber Brown III of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore decided to do something about it.

On a large lot in front of the church, Brown planted a garden filled with everything from summer squash to kale that now produces 1,100 pounds of produce every year. He also teamed up with black farmers in the area, who now sell their fruits and vegetables at the church on Sundays. Due to the "amazing" response, Brown said, he decided to bring the program to more congregations, launching the Black Church Food Security Network in 2015.

Now, more than 10 churches in Baltimore, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., have established sustainable food systems at their churches, and Brown gets emails and calls all the time from people interested in joining the network. The program is a win-win: Underserved communities are getting access to healthy food, and farmers are selling their goods. "Food is always going to be a priority for our communities," Brown told WTOP. "And churches and faith-based organizations, I've got a strong hunch, will always be here." Catherine Garcia

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