By A.J. Powers, Contributing Writer
St. Bonaventure University’s Farm to Table is a program run by the university ministries center that occurs every summer. During a 10-weekperiod over the summer, much time is spent at a local farm preparing food that will later be served at The Warming House, a local student-run soup kitchen in downtown Olean.
The program runs every June through August and allows students to learn the progression of food, from planting to serving. While the program was originally started to keep the Warming House open during winter periods, the expansion into summer months has allowed for more student engagement when needed.
Four to five days per week, participants work at the farm in the mornings, helping to sow and harvest 45 types of vegetables. In the afternoons, they create and serve a nutritious meal for local people in need at the Warming House.
“The Farm to Table program is much more than just a summer program,” said Alice Miller-Nation, director of the university’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern. “Although it is a 10-week program over the summer, the work continues when school resumes.”
Sophomore journalism major Will McDonough shared his experiences working for the program, and the hidden benefits of the process.
“I did farm to table because I needed a summer job and I loved working at the Warming House already, I was looking forward to getting a leadership role in ministry,” McDonough said. “The best part for PR [personal relations] reasons was the selfsatisfaction of helping people get the food they need and watching where it came from.”
But it’s not all work, as Miller-Nation said. Participants spend days off kayaking, swimming and spending some days at a local lake.
To help raise money and awareness for the Farm to Table program and other outreach ministries, the Franciscan Center for Social Concern hosted #GivingTuesdayatBonas, in December of 2020. The event allowed members of the university community to donate to the local soup kitchen, either with money or non-perishable food items.
Students who take part receive free room and board during the duration of the summer, education scholarships during the next semester and receive additional compensation.
There are flyers posted around campus, informing students on how to join the farm to table program. There will also be interest meetings on March 9 at 4:30 p.m. and March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
powersaj17@bonaventure.edu
