DownloadNov. 30, 2009 issue
MMA honors Va. community project
By Judy Martin Godshalk Mennonite Mutual AidHARRISONBURG, Va. — Tom Benevento, along with his New Community Project partners, accepted Mennonite Mutual Aid’s Journey Award Nov. 15 at Shalom Mennonite Church.
On behalf of all recipients, Tom Benevento, left, received MMA’s Journey Award chalice from Joseph Lapp, right, at Shalom Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va. — Photo provided by MMA
MMA presents the Journey Award to highlight what people of faith are doing as stewards of their God-given gifts.
Benevento, New Community’s coordinator in Harrisonburg, leads its local work in caring for creation and bringing justice to people without financial means. NCP works in urban agriculture, including gardening projects with Our Community Place for people who are homeless.
New Community is also working on transportation locally, including an environmentally friendly shuttle bus and a community bicycle shop, as well as the One Mile Challenge, which encourages people to bike or walk when traveling one mile or less.
Benevento researched and initiated solar hot water systems as part of the group’s housing initiatives. The system is now standard in homes built by the Central Valley affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
Known as someone who lives out his faith, Benevento is attentive to the spiritual as well as the practical side of his work with New Community Project. NCP is a national faith-based creation care and justice organization.
Joseph Lapp, MMA Journey Award Advisory Committee representative, presented the Journey Award chalice and a $5,000 charitable contribution from MMA, which Benevento chose to direct to the work of New Community Project in Harrisonburg.
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