Marshall gives back to the community

By Katherine Burse, state public affairs officer

It was not by accident that, while out driving, Reggie Marshall came upon a church full of kids playing outside and decided to stop his car and offer his services to build a community garden on the grounds of the church. Marshall spoke with Bishop Marcus Campbell - Pastor of the Church of Mt. Carmel and also the Founder Of Gentlemen And Not Gangsters about his desire to show kids how to eat healthy and grow their own food.

Fast forward to June 14, Marshall returned to the church with 120 planter pots and seeds for the children to plant. With a 20 feet x 20 feet plot dedicated for the community garden, Marshall lined up the pots atop burlap material and allowed the more than 20 kids, ages 5-17, to plant a variety of herbs, including basil, oregano, lemongrass, sage, fennel, to name a few.

Each week, Marshall will return with new pots to plant. On his next visit, he will deliver a variety of greens. The church’s resident cook, Sterling 100, will tend the garden with the children from day to day, and once the produce is ready to harvest, Sterling 100 will gather the fruits of their labor and cook healthy meals for the children in the community.

When asked what prompted him to volunteer his time and treasures to The Church at Mt. Carmel, Marshall replied, “I like to give back to my community and want to show these kids how to grow their own food and eat healthy.”