From the desk of Maurice Theriot, Executive Director – South Side Farms
Greetings! And Happy Holidays!
The old folks used to say, “Count your blessings and name them one by one!” When you stop to think about it, each of us can find something we are truly thankful for. And as we enter the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to our community for their unwavering support of South Side Farms.
This past year has been a remarkable journey, filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, but ultimately, it has been a year of tremendous growth and progress for this nonprofit organization.
I began my tenure here on May 1st and the blessings have snowballed from day one! We are thankful for the partnerships, collaborations, and friendships that have been forged over the past year. These relationships have been instrumental in not only helping us achieve our mission of “cultivating crop and people”, but have brought joy, love, and generosity to our community.
We are grateful for small and big things equally; like the grants that have been awarded to us, which have enabled us to make significant infrastructure improvements to our farm. These upgrades have not only enhanced our operations but have also allowed us to better serve our community. Or to hear encouraging words from passersby, “keep up the good work, you’re making a difference more than you can imagine,” does wonders for the soul. It actually provides the encouragement to wake up every day, get dressed, come to work, and face the day’s challenges with a smile. For these things I’m grateful.
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We have faced challenges, but we have also experienced many triumphs. In just our second growing season alone, we have already placed over 6,000 pounds of food directly into the local food supply chain! Imagine how many individuals had access to fresh, farm-to-table, healthy, nutritious food, due to our efforts at South Side farms. And we are just getting started! That’s inspiring to me.
And I’m grateful to be a part of something bigger than myself. Through it all, our community has offered their support, encouragement, and love.
As we look to the months ahead, I am filled with optimism and excitement. We have many projects and initiatives on the horizon, and I am confident that they will bring even more joy, growth, and prosperity to our community.
Consider the fact that we signed a contract for our first major building on the farm last month. God is moving in a mighty way!
Before I close, I want to share some pictures from this past year. I’ve included a few of my favorites, which capture some of the special moments we’ve shared together. I hope you enjoy reliving these memories with me.
Thank you again to our amazing community for your love, support, and generosity. We are honored to serve you and look forward to many more years of growth, progress, and joy together! Happy Holidays from South Side Farms!
Let’s Grow Something Together!
For more information about our upcoming events and activities, or to become a volunteer, please contact our Administrative Assistant Sherrell Wright at 573-576-1051. We look forward to hearing from you.
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For further details and updates, stay connected with South Side Farms through Urban Voices, your hometown connection, also online at semourbanvoices.com. Your support and participation are vital to our mission of promoting health, sustainability, and community well-being.
