Finding the wonder of life in a strawberry or a lettuce leaf, Titus Yoder said throughout his life he’s tried finding life in everything. From harvesting his own garden to feed his family, feeding his animals and working with the Hunger and Health Coalition to collect food scraps, he feels like he’s honoring the circle of life.
“Everything that grows — every plant, every leaf, every fruit, every berry — is part of the circle of life that is sacred,” Titus said.
Titus is one of a few animal farmers in the area that the Hunger and Health Coalition partners with. To ensure that the folks coming to the agency are receiving quality produce and food items, staff and volunteers examine food that comes into the building by hand. Food is purchased from local farmers or donated by grocery stores and restaurants. As a
part of HHC's green initiatives to reduce waste, any food that we ourselves wouldn’t eat is sat aside for our animal friends to enjoy.
A few times a week for the last three years, Titus — along with other animal farmers — will pick up the scrap food from the agency to be fed to their animals. In Titus’ case, he takes the food to his farm in Caldwell County and feeds the food to his chickens and used to feed the food to his pigs he had up until a year ago. Anything left over goes into a compost pile.
Everywhere Titus has lived — such as New Mexico or Colorado — he said he’s tried to partner with establishments in the area such as food pantries, restaurants and schools. Each of these places he’s had chickens and pigs and enjoys repurposing food to continue that circle of life.
“(Farmers) get paid back maybe not monetarily but probably spiritually by doing what we do,” Titus said. “It’s the best part of my day when I take care of my animals, making sure everybody is happy, comfortable and fed.”
Coming from an Amish Mennonite background and with parents who grew up during The Great Depression, he learned a lot about not wasting food and giving back to the land.
“Even at home our kitchen scraps goes to the chicken or the pigs. I really have learned to honor and respect food,” Titus said. “You take it for granted because there's so much of it. But that's not guaranteed.”
After having a hospital stay due to COVID-19, Titus said he was unable to work. He not only kept picking up the food scraps from the Hunger and Health Coalition for his animals but also came to pick up food for himself from the agency.
“That was a great help to us,” Titus said.
He added that the staff at the Hunger and Health Coalition have always been good to him, and he appreciates the work the agency does for the community.
To learn more about how to get involved with the Hunger and Health Coalition, visit www.hungerhealthcoalition.com.
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