N.C. Cooperative Extension - Iredell County Center
An inspiring discussion during a weekly Faithful Families Thriving Communities class at Beverly Hills Baptist Church, led by Richmond County FCS Agent Cheri Bennett, has blossomed into a new project to teach safe food preservation skills for food pantry clients. Recognizing that local food pantries in Richmond County were receiving an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, class participants noted that many community members want to utilize this fresh produce but lack the skills to safely freeze, can, or dehydrate it for the future.
To bridge this gap, the church's Faithful Families coordinator—who is also a dedicated Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV)—teamed up with Cheri to take action. With Cheri’s guidance and support, the church successfully applied for and was awarded a $6,000 Resourceful Communities grant to bring hands-on food preservation education straight to the community.
This funding kicks off an exciting series of eight monthly classes running from May through December, 2026. Using the trusted NC Safe Plates food preservation curriculum, the classes will offer interactive, hands-on learning experiences for the general public, food pantry clients, and local non-profit staff.
Attendees will dive into a new preservation method and tested recipe each month, gaining practical skills like:
Proper knife and cutting techniques
Accurate recipe reading and measuring
Safe operation of water-bath canners, pressure canners, and dehydrators
A sustainable community win
In addition to cooking instruction, the grant funds key kitchen essentials, including canning kits, jars, dehydrators, and safety gear, creating a sustainable resource for years to come. Even better, community members who don't have canning equipment at home can schedule supervised time to use the church’s newly stocked kitchen to preserve their own food.
This project also provides a boost to the local economy. All produce used in the classes will be locally sourced, directly supporting the area's farmers and growers. Plus, Richmond County’s Extension Master Food Volunteers will be right there to assist, earning volunteer and continuing education hours as they help neighbors master the art of food preservation.
This content is sourced from
N.C. Cooperative Extension - Iredell County Center
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
