Harvest Aid Project 2003 - 2006 update and appreciation

Greetings!

We want to make sure that everyone who helped support the Harvest Aid Project hears about the results of our work. Please pass this message on to folks who have supported the Harvest Aid Project... include it in your CSA or organization newsletter or email messages or however you spread the word.

Thank you for your support and for all of the great work you do to help feed people near and far.

Harvest Aid organizers: Ann Gibson, Mary McClintock, Jo Comerford

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Harvest Aid Project 2003 - 2006

It has been three years since the US military bulldozed citrus and date groves in Dhuluaya, Iraq in the fall of 2003, and two years since members of CSAs and Pioneer Valley organizations participated in the Harvest Aid Fund. We thank you for your generosity - funds raised by Harvest Aid have helped hungry National Guard families in the Pioneer Valley as well as ten Iraqi war widows near Abu Graib.  As a result of your support the Iraqi women now have ewes and lambs to help feed their families.

Here are some highlights of the Harvest Aid Fund:

·       April 2004:  Letter of Apology to the farmers in Dhuluaya signed by 150 Pioneer Valley residents and farmers taken to Baghdad by AFSC staff. 

·       Spring and Summer 2004:  Harvest Aid Fund raises funds for the farmers in Dhuluaya and the United Service Organization Food Pantry connected with both Westover and Barnes Air Force bases.

·       August 2004:  Letter of Apology delivered by a young Iraqi to the farmers in Dhuluaya.

·       November 2004:  Veterans' Day press conference with several local farmers attending, includes presentation of a check for $500 to the director of the Westover USO Food Pantry, to help National Guard families being hurt by the war.  Funds to help the Iraqi farmers held in escrow until they can be gotten safely to Iraq.

·       November 2005:  Violence in Iraq continues and getting money directly to the farmers not possible.  The Iraqi portion of the funds therefore sent to to Al Maarefa, a well-regarded women's organization in Fallujah, for a project involving farmers.

·       February 2006: Ten Iraqi war widows near Abu Graib are given ewes and lambs to help feed their families. The women, who lost their family breadwinners due to the war in Iraq, will use the sheep for milk, meat and a source of income.

With your support - both in signing the apology letter and in donating funds - we have been able to help local families and have made the connection with these Iraqi women and the life-giving animals.

With great gratitude,

Ann Gibson, Mary McClintock, and Jo Comerford for the Harvest Aid Fund

The Harvest Aid Fund is co-sponsored by Commonwealth CSA, the Environmental Task Force of the Hampshire Interfaith Council, the Food Bank Farm in Hadley, Grace Church Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Natural Roots CSA Farm in Conway, Northeast Organic Farmers Association, Mass board, Red Fire Farm in Granby, Riverland Farm in Sunderland, Seeds of Solidarity Farm in Orange, Traprock Peace Center, the Western Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Wilder Brook Farm of Charlemont.