Planting Purpose: Natalie Ross’ Service Journey

By; Natalie Ross

Natalie is experiencing the sweet fruit of watching seeds of purpose grow into a life of service. Through NDMV, she serves at Mission of Mary Cooperative, a nonprofit organization that works on food justice issues on the inner east side of Dayton.

They distribute fresh, locally grown produce to their community of various income levels. They also run nutrition and gardening education programs, and a CSA that provides healthy food at afforable prices to the community. 

Natalie grew up believing she was born to do something bigger than herself. “I was an introspective and reflective kid,” she said. She began to explore her faith more in college. Though her faith journey has been a beautiful winding road, there was one thing that has remained constant:  she always knew she was drawn to do something fulfilling.

In her search to find that  very thing, she came across the Mission of Mary Cooperative. She volunteered there during the pandemic when the most common options for volunteering were outside. 

After volunteering, Natalie wanted to work there full-time, but she didn’t have enough experience working on a farm. Notre Dame Mission Volunteers was her way in. 

Her experience has continued to water the hope she felt growing up. “Being a part of an organization like this makes me feel less helpless. There is so much bad news. I know I’m connected to something beyond myself to make a big impact.”

Mission of Mary produces 60,000 pounds of food each year and is dedicated to putting as much of that harvest as possible on the tables of neighborhood families. They operate a CSA (community support agriculture) program that offers memberships at lower costs to families who cannot afford their regular produce prices. The program even gives people the option of paying with EBT. 

Natalie explained that Mission of Mary focuses on Integral ecology. She explained, “Integral ecology is thinking about social issues as a part of thinking about the environment. Our model is to take vacant lots [of land] and turn it into something beautiful and productive that tends to the environment and the people who will experience the land and fruit of it.”

Natalie has wanted to do something big and now understands what that means. She said, “I’ve discovered that a lot of the “big” that’s out there is not about me becoming bigger– it’s about connecting to others. That has been so rewarding.” 

Natalie’s experience with NDMV has led her to fulfillment and community. One of her favorite parts of NDMV is “being able to meet with other members. It has introduced me to people I would’ve never met before.”

Natalie believes that “at the end of the day, everyone needs to eat, no matter how tired you might feel. If you're looking for motivation, it's always there. People need to eat, and people need to be able to eat healthy.” It is that profoundly simple for her. 

This experience has taught Natalie that we can't solve every problem. She explained, “When it's just you by yourself, it's so easy to be overwhelmed and feel like you can't do anything.

When you're connected–whether that feeling comes from your site placement,  through being part of NDA, or whatever that group feeling is– that's really helpful. I've always found that to be true.”