Month: April 2020

Superheroes do Indeed Wear Masks

Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our ECHO Asia staff is putting seeds into the hands of those who need them most. The seed bank staff has initiated a program called “Seeds of Hope” to make seed, seedlings, and soil available to people in need of food during this of crisis. Distribution has begun to many partners in the Northern Thailand region. Hundreds of seed packets have been distributed to partners on the Burma/Thailand border to help Burmese migrant workers who are stranded because of border closings.

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ECHO provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 countries and online through ECHOcommunity.org. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL. Visit echonet.org

ECHO Global Farm feeding families during pandemic [Video]

A Lee County farm is harvesting its produce to feed families that have fallen on hard times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vegetables and fruits planted on Andy Cotarelo’s 57-acre ECHO Global Farm in North Fort Myers are being donated to Southwest Florida food pantries and Immokalee’s migrant community.

“Vegetables like carrots and kohlrabi, different greens, papaya, yams,” Cotarelo said.

“We started being more intentional about harvesting the produce from the farm and using it to be a blessing to the community around ECHO.”

ECHO interns like Emily Kinzer help harvest and prepare the produce for donation.

“It’s been really cool to be able to have all of our produce go somewhere that’s meaningful,” she said. “Especially in this extra hard time.”

“The last two weeks it’s been about 310 pounds on the average that we’ve been able to give to Cultivate Abundance,” Cotarelo said.

“Cultivate Abundance” serves low-income migrant farmer communities in Immokalee, and the program’s director, Rick Burnette, picks up the produce to feed those affected by the pandemic.

“We’re grateful for what ECHO is doing, providing this wonderful quality produce that’s going to farmworker households in Immokalee, and those people are rockstars,” Burnette said.

ECHO will harvest on Thursday and Friday to donate more produce to local food banks.

For more information, you can reach ECHO Global Farm in North Fort Myers at (239) 543-3246 or email info@echonet.org. You can also visit their website to learn more.


Creative Capacity Building Inspires Life-Change

A 55-year-old widow in East Africa took in five orphaned children and is raising them on her own. On the brink of abandoning her weaving business, she attended an ECHO East Africa Creative Capacity Building training and realized she could widen the looms to meet the demands of her customers.

Now Marilyn is using her improved business not to just support herself and the family she is raising – she is also helping young, un-wed mothers. Marilyn says, “I wish to see vulnerable youth receive life skills and education that will enable them to be self-employed.”

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ECHO provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 countries and online through ECHOcommunity.org. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL. Visit echonet.org

 

ECHO Internship – What happens next?

As we all continue to navigate these uncertain days, this week’s “positivity pause” celebrates hope that lasts.

Noah serves in Senegal equipping West African farmers to transform their lives and communities. Watch this 3 ½ minute video and see how what he learned 10 years ago as an ECHO intern is still a “toolbox of ideas” he draws from every day.

To support vulnerable families during the COVID-19 crisis in Florida, ECHO interns are harvesting and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm to local feeding programs.

 Interns are also helping to pack and ship special “Seed Kits” that feature fast-growing and nutritious plants. Check out what’s available for tropical or temperate climates. Your purchases will help to advance ECHO’s mission!

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ECHO provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in more than 180 countries. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL. Visit echonet.org