Fort Myers, Fla., March 13, 2010—Just hours after record rainfall for the month of March, ECHO opens it's doors to record attendees during it's annual Farm Day! Visitors drove from as far as Jacksonville to attend this year's event. Farm Day is held in North Fort Myers at ECHO Global Farm, the headquarters for local nonprofit Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization.

Having to scramble for last minute parking was only one of the challenges caused by yesterday's deluge! Other challenges included postponed set up and rescheduled volunteer training. You wouldn't know it from the scene today, though! Teeming with people, ECHO's Farm Day seems to be a huge hit!

Visitors are enjoying sugar cane juice fresh from the cane, Freshly hand-ground peanut butter, gardening workshops such as "Jump-start your Garden with Containers" and "Food Plants in the Landscape", tours of ECHO's 40+ variety Bamboo courtyard and Tropical Fruit Tree Arboretum and Children's activities such as "Paint-a-pot, Plant-a-seed" and "Leaf Printing."

"We received more rain on the farm yesterday than I have ever seen in March!" states ECHO CEO Stan Doerr. "But with a few last minute adjustments and with today's beautiful weather, Farm Day is just as successful as we expected! We are so pleased to have such a crowd!

Farm Day will last from until 3pm today. Tickets are just $5.

This community event is made possible by ECHO’s generous sponsors, including a new major sponsor The News-Press, LCEC, Travis Reprographics, First Bank, Sun Harvest Citrus, Fafco Solar, Vic’s Painting, Rotary of Cape Coral North, Costco and Walmart.

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL. www.echonet.org

Moorings Presbyterian Church of Naples Funds Construction of Gazebo at ECHO

Fort Myers, Fla., March 5, 2010— The Moorings Presbyterian Church recently presented ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) with a $5,000 check to fund the construction of a gazebo for the new location of ECHO’s Tropical Fruit Nursery currently in the planning stages at ECHO. 

This new location for ECHO’s Tropical Fruit Nursery will enable ECHO to better serve its customers, while providing tourists and visitors the opportunity to view and purchase the nutritious plants that are saving lives all over the world.

“We appreciate the partnership with Moorings Presbyterian Church”, states Bill Hooth, ECHO’s Church Relations Coordinator. “Its gifts like these that have enabled us to continue to provide agricultural options to the poor in over 180 countries around the world.”

Since 1989, the Moorings Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida has been supporting ECHO’s efforts to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor. ECHO works with over 3,000 organizations to equip them with agricultural resources and skills to grow food in some of the most difficult areas of the world. 

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable solutions to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative ideas, and networking.  By networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries, ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL.

Discount admission tickets to the 19^th annual ECHO Farm Day are on sale now at the ECHO bookstore and gift shop at 17391 Durrance Rd. in North Fort Myers.  The tickets are $3.00 per person, 12 and under are free.  You may also purchase tickets the day of the event for $5.00 per person, 12 and under free.

Fort Myers, Fla., December 3, 2009—St. Columbkille Catholic Church was honored on December 1^st with the “Bethel Society Award” for lifetime giving to a local charity ECHO or ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization).  The Bethel Society Award pays tribute to churches who have supported ECJP through contributions totaling over $50,000.  St. Columbkille is one of only 5 churches out of over 800 who have reached that milestone.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church provides equipment grant to ECHO