The lives of farmers in Dhuluaya, Iraq and Pioneer Valley families of military personnel serving in Iraq seem worlds apart, but they share at least one thing in common - they're both having a hard time feeding themselves. Through the Harvest Aid Fund, Pioneer Valley farmers and residents are joining together this harvest season to help feed their neighbors - both near and far - hurt by the war in Iraq.

The Dhuluaya farmers lost their livelihoods last fall when US soldiers bulldozed their orange, lemon and date groves as "punishment" for the farmers not revealing the identities of resistance fighters allegedly hiding in their groves. Without their groves, they have no way to support their families.

Meanwhile, many military families in the Pioneer Valley have been hurt financially while their family members serve in Iraq. Whether as National Guard troops and Reservists who leave behind better paying jobs when called up for service or because of low pay in other branches of the military, they can't make ends meet. The Pioneer Valley USO Food Pantry, an organization that serves local needy military families, has seen a three-fold increase in demand for their services in the past year.

"Most of the military in our area are in the Guard or Reserves and have jobs outside of the military," says Sandy Wakefield of the Pioneer Valley USO. "In many instances, families lose money when the wage earner is called to active duty. Sometimes it is very difficult deciding what bills to pay and still be able to feed the family."

The Harvest Aid Fund is an attempt to share the abundance of Pioneer Valley agriculture with these two very different groups of people who have been hurt by the war in Iraq. The Fund drive begins on summer solstice (June 21st) and will run the length of the Pioneer Valley growing season, through Halloween. Half the funds raised will go to the farmers of Dhuluaya and half will go to the Pioneer Valley USO Food Pantry. In the event that the funds cannot be delivered directly to the farmers in Dhuluaya, their share will go to an Iraqi organization working on hunger issues and rebuilding Iraq's agriculture.

The Harvest Aid Fund is a people to people, farmer to farmer effort that grew out of a letter of apology to the farmers of Dhuluaya created by Ann Gibson and Mary McClintock of Conway this past spring. The letter was signed by 150 residents of Western Massachusetts and is currently with staff of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) working in Baghdad. They hope to deliver the letter to the Iraqi farmers in July.

Initiated by Ann and Mary along with Jo Comerford of the Western Mass office of the AFSC office in Florence, the Harvest Aid Fund is cosponsored by Commonwealth CSA, the Environmental Task Force of the Hampshire Interfaith Council, the Food Bank Farm in Hadley, Grace Church Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Red Fire Farm in Granby, Riverland Farm in Sunderland, Seeds of Solidarity Farm in Orange, Traprock Peace Center, and the Western Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice. (Note: a more up-to-date list of cosponsors is maintained here.)

A general appeal for donations as well as information leaflets, collection cans, and posters about the Fund will be available at local farmstands, famers' markets, festivals, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) farms. Riverland Farm co-owner and Harvest Aid Fund co-sponsor Scott Reed says, "I can't imagine what it would be like if my fields were bulldozed. I know this is only a token gesture to support the Iraqi farmers and the local military families, but I hope it conveys our concern. I am grateful for the opportunity to share our harvest with those who are in need."

The Western Massachusetts office of the American Friends Service Committee (a 501(c)3 organization) is serving as fiscal sponsor for the project and all donations are tax-deductible.

To donate to the Harvest Aid Fund, send a check marked Harvest Aid Fund to AFSC, 140 Pine St., Florence, MA 01062. For information about how to get involved with distributing leaflets and posters, contact Jo Comerford at the above address, or at 413-584-8975 or afsc@crocker.com