Hope Seeds seeks extra hands

By Dana Kampa
| 5:00 a.m. December 5, 2025

Brent Piersma and Beverly Sutton fill seed packets for Hope Seeds.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Last year, volunteers with Christ Church of Longboat Key sent over 1 million seed packets to over 20 countries, organizer Ann Quackenbush said. Now, in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, they are hoping to increase their efforts. But they need a helping hand.

Volunteers come together once a month to pack seeds to send abroad. Quackenbush said with storms damaging fields in Jamaica and neighboring countries, families need support to rebuild and regrow.

Those looking to help can join the effort from 1-3:15 p.m. Dec. 8 at Fellowship Hall at the church, located at 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Call 941-735-9454 or visit ChristChurchOfLBK.org.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.