Members of St. James UMC of Columbus, as well as members of Asbury UMC of Holly Springs and Wesley Memorial UMC of Greenwood, recently gleaned watermelons from the Delta that were divided and brought back to their individual communities.(Photo submitted)

It was a hot August day in the Mississippi Delta, but for Eve Priester of St. James United Methodist Church of Columbus, gleaning watermelons meant many hungry children in Columbus would have a special treat that day.

“Gleaning is one of the best ways to stop hunger,” Priester said. “If you have the heart, the passion and the desire to do something outside of the box for your community, this is a special project. It is about having a passion to help hungry neighbors in my community. It was a hard job, but it was so worth it.”

Priester joined members of St. James UMC of Columbus, as well as members of Asbury UMC of Holly Springs and Wesley Memorial UMC of Greenwood to glean watermelons that were divided and brought back to their individual communities.

Rev. Brenda McCaskill of Wesley Memorial UMC in Greenwood (formerly of St. James UMC in Columbus) said it took some effort to bend down, pull the watermelons, carry them, and to load them, but three teams from the Greenwood, Senatobia and Starkville UMC Districts worked together in unity to fill up three trucks and a trailer. Continue reading →