Harvest Hope

30 Years of Harvest for the Hungry –

Derek’s Story

Derek Wade started what is now known as Harvest for The Hungry (HfTH) during the Balkan War. In three decades, hundreds of thousands of parcels and hot meals worth over £2.5million have been provided!

In September 1993, Derek was appointed Director of ‘EuroAid’ at TEN, emphasising our humanitarian work. That autumn, following the siege of Sarajevo the previous year, TEN was able take a plane filled with vital aid into Zagreb. Derek reflects, “That airlift of food parcels was the beginning of an annual Harvest time project which has become ‘Harvest for The Hungry’.

“That first year we filled half a truck from TEN (around 1,000 parcels). Almost every church and school in greater Kettering joined in. I’d write a letter, visit to give a presentation in schools throughout the day and churches in the evenings. Schools and churches celebrate Harvest but often didn’t really know how to focus their appeal, so when we presented the need, they were delighted to help!”

Soon annual deliveries were made to Russia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Moldova and other countries.

Derek concluded: “When I started HfTH I had no idea that thirty years later it would still be needed. But with the similarities between what we started with in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the current invasion of Ukraine and the impact that is having on all eastern European countries, sadly I fear HfTH will be even more needed this year, and in the following years.

Extracts taken from a story by Paul Eddy. To read Derek’s full story, visit www.harvestforthehungry.org