October . 1 . 2024
Celebrating 12 Years
Since 2012, women throughout our community have graciously opened their homes in the fall and hosted what has become The Gathering benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas and the New Roots program.
You can be a part of this event, which continues to spread a welcoming message filled with hope, by making a donation.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Share in the
Harvest
Over a decade ago, a group of friends gathered to learn more about New Roots, a farm training program offered through Catholic Charities. What blossomed was a passion to support this unique ministry and the incredible farmers in the program. New Roots helps refugees, immigrants and English Language Learners utilize their skills to help sustain their families and our community through agriculture.
Thanks to the support of The Gathering, New Roots has experienced growth and success. Forty-six farming families have graduated from the program and 27 of those are still farming locally.
Thian Za Mawi
A Farmer's Journey
This fall, Thian Za Mawi will complete her fourth and final year with New Roots, afarmer training program collaboration between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC. Thian Mawi’s journey to theUnited States and her achievements in the program are a testament to her resilience and determination. Originally from Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thian Mawi’s life was full of hardship. “It was very difficult before we arrived in the United States. We lived in a refugee camp and had to struggle for our lives,” she said. In 2011, Thian and her family resettled in the United States. “After we arrived we eventually got our own house and car. I was eager to participate in the farmer training program.”
Thian Mawi learned about New Roots from her friends, and has celebrated many milestones since entering the program. “Before, my husband was working, but we didn’t haveany extra money. New Roots has enabled usto make some extra income to send back to our family in Myanmar.” Back home, Thian Mawi’s family has struggled due to the economy. Many have lost their jobs so Thian Mawi and her husband support them from abroad. Known at Juniper Gardens as “a vegetable growing powerhouse,” Thian Mawi grows many varieties of American and Asian vegetables, including eggplant, lettuce, potato, onion, garlic, carrots and some specialty crops such as Ching Baung and water spinach. Thian Mawi also grows sunflowers and zinnias. Her produce is sold at the Gladstone Farmers’ Market in Gladstone, Missouri. She also sells through the New Roots Farm Share and Wholesale programs.
Despite having a small lot at Juniper Gardens, Thian Mawi takes pride in her accomplishments and aspires to expand her farming business one day. “I have a dream to get my own land of one or two acres, and I want to have a greenhouse or high tunnel. If there is space, I would love to have chickens,” she added. The New Roots program has provided Thian Mawi and her family many blessings that she is grateful for. “I am very happy I can work in the program. I was also able to watch over my father and provide for him before he died.” Although Thian Mawi has faced many hardships, farming brings her immense joy and a sense of purpose. “Sometimes I am so tired and stressed but when I visit the garden I see some plants and I don’t know how to say it, but they make me happy and I want to stay a long time there. Sometimes we are very tired but the garden refreshes us.”
Support New Roots Farmers
The New Roots program empowers families to start farm businesses growing produce according to organic standards. For the past decade New Roots has supported families from the refugee community in establishing their own farm businesses primarily selling through farmers markets, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and wholesale to local restaurants.
Above: Thian Za Mawi displays flowers from a recent harvest.
2024 Gathering Committee
Angela Evangelidis
Missy Kuklenski
Julie Norton
Lynn O’Leary
Maddy O’Leary
2023 Interpreter Sponsors
Mrs. Jackie Massman
2023 Market Sponsors
Mrs. Jeanne Gates
Mrs. Karen Gibbons
Mrs. Patricia Gound
Mrs. Shelley Howe
Mrs. Pam Kramer
Mrs. Missy Kuklenski
Mrs. Bridget Lee
Mrs. Erika McCarthy
Mrs. Caroline Reintjes
Terrasi Living & Scandia Home
Mrs. Allison Waters
Mrs. Jeanne Gates
Mrs. Karen Gibbons
Mrs. Patricia Gound
Mrs. Shelley Howe
Mrs. Pam Kramer
Mrs. Missy Kuklenski
Mrs. Bridget Lee
Mrs. Erika McCarthy
Mrs. Caroline Reintjes
Terrasi Living & Scandia Home
Mrs. Allison Waters
2023 Seedling Sponsors
Mrs. Dori Boers
Mrs. Diane Church
Mrs. DeeDee Cooper
Country Club Bank
Mrs. Sarah Evans
Mrs. Ann Hays
Mrs. Kathy Jantsch
Ms. Dorothy Barnthouse
Ms. Jo E. Kerby
Mrs. Patricia Lisson
Mrs. Jackie Marquardt
Mrs. Kathy Newman
Ms. Julie Norton
Mrs. Maureen Rasmussen
Mrs. Lynn Reardon
Mrs. Donna Teahan
Mrs. Leslie Whitaker
Mrs. Dori Boers
Mrs. Diane Church
Mrs. DeeDee Cooper
Country Club Bank
Mrs. Sarah Evans
Mrs. Ann Hays
Mrs. Kathy Jantsch
Mrs. Dorothy Barnthouse
Ms. Jo E. Kerby
Mrs. Patricia Lisson
Mrs. Jackie Marquardt
Mrs. Kathy Newman
Ms. Julie Norton
Mrs. Maureen Rasmussen
Mrs. Lynn Reardon
Mrs. Donna Teahan
Mrs. Leslie Whitaker
Our Impact
Stories of Hope
Thian Za Mawi’s family, like dozens of others, has found hope and a path to self-sufficiency through the New Roots program. In the past 12 years, The Gathering has featured farmers in the New Roots program. Read their inspiring stories below.
