Norristown’s Visitation BVM is cultivating a sense of service in its students, reports Matteo Iadonisi for Action News.
Father Bob Gross is the pastor at Visitation where he speaks with the children about the importance of caring for others. He doesn’t just preach service, however. He calls the children to action.
Two years ago, he turned a field on the parish property into the “No Greater Love” garden. With help from Father Gross and volunteer parishioners, students at the Catholic school tend the garden to feed those in need.
They start by planting seeds in the greenhouse. In the spring, they move the seedlings into the garden. A short time later, the produce is ready for picking.
Every Wednesday, the students harvest the vegetables from the garden. On Thursdays, the produce is donated to the Patrician Society in Norristown. The Patrician Society is a non-profit food drive that feeds the hungry in Norristown and the greater Montgomery County.
Every year, the garden grows.
“Our first year, I think we grew around 2,000 – 3,000 pounds of food,” Father Gross said. “This year, so far we’ve grown around 5,000 pounds of food. It’s really a wonderful thing.”
The garden is a joint effort between the students and other parishioners and Father Gross intends to continue year after year.
Read more about Visitation BVM’s No Greater Love Garden at Action News.
