Project Profile: The Mustard Seed Catholic Worker Community
In Worcester, using energy savings to power a “labor of love”
by Liam Davidson
The Thanksgiving holiday falls at a funny time of year for those of us at Sunwealth. It’s a time to give thanks for the blessings of the last year, yes, but like so many of you, these last few weeks of 2021 that span the holiday season will be some of our busiest. In the spirit of the season—and with gratitude for the important work they do-- Sunwealth is excited to share more about one of our partners, the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker House in Worcester, Massachusetts.
(The Mustard Seed team seen in front of their rooftop solar installation)
For nearly 50 years, Mustard Seed has brought together a diverse community of volunteers to provide meals and support to Worcester residents in need. In Worcester County, around 12 percent of children and 9 percent of adults in the area experience food insecurity—numbers that just outpace the rest of the Commonwealth. The problem is compounded by rising housing costs and the limited supply of affordable housing options—a recent article noted that the waitlist for Worcester Housing Authority units is eight years long.
Enter the Mustard Seed. Since its incorporation in the mid-1970s, the volunteer-run organization has operated a soup kitchen that serves 80-200 meals a night, and a food pantry that provides food for individuals and families. As Bill Shaner of Worcester Magazine writes, the Mustard Seed is more than a “glimpse into the problem of hunger in Worcester,” but also “how Worcester fights back.”
A few years back, Sunwealth financed an 11kW installation on Mustard Seed, and partnered with Resonant Energy and Endless Energy to develop and build the project. Over the life of the project, the solar array will provide Mustard Seed nearly $16,000 in energy savings. “Energy savings will help defray costs we incur for items like paper goods, cleaning supplies, and food pantry items,” said Paula Bushey, treasurer at Mustard Seed. “We operate solely off donations and are grateful to have this additional money that we can use for our labor of love,” added Michael Boover, the organization’s co-founder.
(Michael Boover of the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker House)
Sunwealth is proud to partner with developers and installers across the country who are doing vital work with organizations like Mustard Seed—partners with deep roots in their community that are serving their neighbors and building a better future day-by-day.
This holiday season, Sunwealth will be supporting our friends at Mustard Seed. To find your local food bank, use the button below.
Liam Davidson is an Associate at Sunwealth, and is passionate about building a cleaner, more equitable future for all of us to share. Outside of the office, Liam enjoys getting out for a row or a bike ride.