b'URBAN HARVEST Reaping the RewardsA Lay Marianist urban farming operation in East Dayton, Ohio, is working with local partners to build a more resilient community.By John SchroederW Even in the midst of the pandemic, Mission of Maryhile out for a walk in her Twin Towersneighborhood of East Daytonan Cooperative has helped revitalize this neighborhoodarea Marianist Brother Ray Fitz once and kept it healthy, says Brother Ray, University ofdescribed as one of the poorest neighborhoods you Dayton, president emeritus. They delivered vegetablesIn the pandemiccould imagineDawn Lochner couldnt quite believe in a safe manner to people throughout the neighbor-economy, nearly one in her eyes. hood, helped neighbors grow a number of backyardeight households doesnt I came upon a large and vigorous vegetable garden. and community gardens and provided boxes of veg-have enough to eat.The Im like, No way! she says, never expecting to see etables to expectant moms. lockdown, with its epic a productive garden patch situated among the vacant Mission of Marys initiatives bear witness to thelines at food banks, has blocks in this low-income section of the city.remarkable impact of the nonprofit and the Lay revealed what was hidden The surprises just kept coming. Dawn noticed a sign Marianists who formed it, beginning 13 years agoin plain sight: that the offering fresh vegetables and fruits to local residents.ALL PHOTOS: BEN ROBINSONstruggle to make food She called the number, and after placing a small order,last long enough and to learned there was a way to start growing her ownget food thats healthful vegetables. what experts call But I live in an apartment, says Dawn, who livesfood insecurityis a on a disability pension. I couldnt imagine it. Thatspersistent one for millions when the Mission of Mary Cooperative, the first non-of Americans.profit founded and operated by Lay Marianists, andits partners at East End Community Services steppedAmerica at Hungers Edge,The NYTimes, Sept. 3, 2020 in. They met Dawn at one of their Community Gardenplots and built her a raised bedcomplete withsoil, compost, seedlings and garden tools. That was a few years ago. So, while others scrambledto access food during the pandemic, Dawn spent thesummer tending her three large garden beds whereshe raised a healthful assortment of tomatoes, cucum- Dawn Lochner enjoys tending her Community Garden plot spon-bers, broccoli, peppers and more.sored by Mission of Mary Cooperative.18 Call 1.800.348.4732'