CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1510651
CityViewNC.com | 23 'He loves this city' Fayetteville native Amanda Christianson, who with Cameron helped develop the concept for Friendship Community Gardens, says the work he does outside the public eye is what makes him deserving of the Community Impact Award. "He likes to do most of his work in the shadows," Christianson says, "quietly twirling away behind the scenes for the pure satisfaction of serving his Lord and his community." "He loves his city, he loves his community and he loves people. You would think that with his occupation in the NICU that he would rightly figure he was giving his pound of flesh to our community already. But going away to Duke Divinity School and being at that Friendship House changed him," says Christianson. e idea behind the garden is to provide people in the community a way to supplement their diets with fresh, organic food and offer recreation for young families with children. She said as a physician, Cameron was keenly aware of the bad health effects of processed food. Friendship Gardens teaches children about where food comes from and also helps feed residents of the Savoy Heights and Arsenal Heights neighborhoods, located not far from Highland Presbyterian Church. e garden has more than 50 raised beds. "We wanted to be a part of the neighbor- hood, and gardening was a good way to get to know our neighbors," says Christianson. "It's also something everyone can do regardless of experience or ability level." e garden has a weekly farmers market in the summer with live music, concessions such as hamburgers and hot dogs, and fresh produce. Cameron says plans for a Friendship House 2.0 are in the works, with cottages to accommodate friends with disabilities who are ready to live together in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. "What I think is interesting is when folks in the community take a need like affordable housing for young adults with disabilities and health care professional students and form the Friendship House. Or create sustainable food options for neighbors from two different socioeconomic backgrounds with the Friendship Community Gardens," Cameron says. "It creates space for all to flourish."