St. Bonaventure University recently reported on the school’s involvement in a local Farm to Table program. 

Students from the university chose to participate with the Bona’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern alongside of Canticle Farm, which is a “Community Supported Agriculture farm sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany,” the school stated. 

The program is an annual one, which begins in June and runs through August, providing students with the chance to learn about planting and harvesting food, as well as serving it. 

The students have been working with the program four to five days a week, sowing and harvesting the many vegetables that are grown at the farm. 

Beyond just the growing process, however, the students also play an integral role when it comes to serving it, by cooking up the ingredients and distributing them to the soup kitchen in downtown Olean. 

Sr. Melissa Scholl, president of the farm, said that this is such a powerful experience for the students, as they learn about what goes into growing their own food. 

“The connection with what they grow and then serve — knowing they grew it and valuing it because they grew it — and then providing it in meals to others, is an amazing cycle,” Scholl said.

One student, Nate Parish, commented on the impact the experience has had on his life. 

“You learn the stories of the guests who come to the Warming House for a hot meal,” Parish said. “You also gain important life skills inside the kitchen such as learning how to cook, working with co-workers and building leadership skills.”

The students in the program also commented on how helpful donations of all kinds are for the soup kitchen. Even if the donation is only a few dollars or a few cans of food, the small donations of many can make a big impact.