A hot, gentle breeze stirs as Joy Olcott walks among the fruit and vegetable rows, a guardian of the garden Grace United Methodist Church members grew.

The Garden of Grace, part of the Millersville church's outreach ministry dedicated to feeding the hungry, is a saving grace for those in need.

This is produce with a higher purpose.

That's what Olcott was seeking when she revisited the idea planted in her mind more than a decade ago.

 "But the timing wasn't there, and I had two little ones at the time," said the Garden of Grace coordinator.

But as they sprouted, so did her idea.

Now it's reached fruition.

In the garden's first year, Grace UMC delivered more than 2,300 pounds of yielded produce to local food distribution agencies and shelters. That includes 300-plus pounds from the gardens of individual church members as part of the Garden Writers Association's Plant a Row for the Hungry initiative.

As part of the effort, Grace partnered with Clare House, which provides housing, mentoring and education for homeless women and their children; Homes of Hope, a transitional housing program; Lydia Center, a Water Street Ministries project; Millersville Meals-on-Wheels; and Water Street Outreach Ministries.

"It seems like so often we get produce that is one day past good, canned goods that have expired or (been) dented, items that nobody else will take or want," said Kerry Brubaker, Water Street Outreach Ministries coordinator. "I guess it's the mentality that if people are really hungry they should be willing to eat anything.

"What a joy it was to get (the) produce. It was fresh and looked beautiful, and the people loved it."

Measuring 40 feet wide by 120 feet long, the Grace garden was planted in spring 2010 on a back portion of the land used by the church for overflow parking. Throughout the growing season, more than 50 church members of all ages cultivated, planted, tended and harvested a fruit and veggie smorgasbord including crunchy cucumbers and corn, juicy tomatoes and melons, plump potatoes and bouquets of broccoli. Then, the nature- and church-blessed bounty was delivered within the community.

Olcott hopes to increase participation from other churches and individuals, including recipients of donations, as well as garden yield within the current garden space, Olcott said.

Church member Gary Ruffhead, 78, whom Olcott considers a garden mentor, initially designed the garden plot on graph paper.

"He's an inspiration," Olcott said, especially to the youngest gardeners in the group. He's especially eager to educate them about the stages of gardening, from seed to harvest.

As for digging in himself?

Although Ruffhead said he has some physical limitations, he likes to hoe in the dirt.

"It keeps me young and off the streets," he joked. "Fresh vegetables still warm from the ground just taste better."

Many residents at Clare House had never used fresh produce and couldn't identify the donated vegetables or decide how to cook them, said Shannon Bower, program coordinator.

"It's been fun to hear how they will look for recipes to use some of the items that they may not have eaten before," Bower commented, and to come together as a group to explore creative options.

Similarly, as produce started arriving at the Lydia Center, the program was changed to allow residents to plan and cook meals, said Paula Sentgeorge, kitchen manager.

"The variety of garden produce allowed the women to cook meals from their specific ethnic backgrounds as well as to try new recipes," she said.

Bower praises those involved with the Garden of Grace and said she hopes they receive a reflection of their shared kindness.

"Kind deeds change lives."

• For information on how you can help, contact Olcott at 872-0315 or email hannabb@comcast.net

sjurgelski@lnpnews.com