The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 22

THE GIST
long for others to join the effort, including
Lawrence's family members, members of his
church, Nashville artists and even six Grammy
Award-nominated musicians.
The 10 tracks on the album include
Shouting on the Hills, The Darkest Hour,
Mother's Only Sleeping, Little Birdie, Forever
Ain't No Trouble, Down the Road, You'll
Never Leave Harlan, a eulogy for the deceased
bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, Come to Jesus
and Softly and Tenderly.
Lawrence and his mother aren't the only
members of the Lawrence clan who are
musically inclined.
His father owned a music store in Richmond
and even played in his own bluegrass band.
Lawrence's daughter, Annie Lawrence, is a
Nashville-based singer-songwriter. She is
featured on two of the album's tracks.
Although deceased, Lawrence's father's
guitar is featured on the album. Before he
passed away, he sold his 1954 Martin D-28
guitar. " It somehow ended up in Chris
Eldridge's hands. Having him play on the
album with my father's guitar is enough to
make me, a grown man, cry, " he says. Eldridge
is a guitarist and singer who is part of Punch
Brothers.
While the album offered Lawrence a way to
combine both his family and passion for music
into one project, it is also a testament to his
faith. In addition to bluegrass songs, the album
features gospel hymns as well.
The cover even includes a reference to the
Bible verse Matthew 11:28. " The reference is
basically: If you are weary and heavy laden,
come to me. It's saying to come home, come
to Jesus, " he says.
Lawrence reports that the album has been
well-received by the public and music industry
types.
" We didn't record the album to make money.
We want to bless people. We want them to
have fun listening to it, " he says. I
Planting Seeds for a Better Future
written by Christina Nifong A new Roanoke nonprofit aims to curb hunger in Belize.
Seed Sow Grow raises money to send to
Belize at the Grandin Village Roanoke Co+op.
(Pictured, from left: Joshua Friday (JoJo's
husband), JoJo Friday, and volunteers Lynette
Ryan and Iliana Sepulveda Aviles.)
seeds and expertise to impoverished
communities around the world. Seed Sow
Grow became a partner organization, and in
October Seed Programs International will send
seeds and training to Belize, Friday says.
" It's the whole cycle of not only receiving
immediate needs, but also learning how to
become self-sufficient, " Friday says.
Already, Seed Sow Grow has held several
fundraisers and provided food to 46 families
in Belize. Friday says the way it has worked so
far has been: Seed Sow Grow sends money to
volunteers in Belize, who walk to food stores
and bring home supplies. They then bundle
chicken, flour and other essentials, and deliver
the boxes to those in need.
Friday feels passionate about Seed Sow
J
oJo Friday began life amid the dramatic
waterfalls and white sand beaches of
Belize. Her mother still lives there and
Friday has decades-old relationships
tying her to this tropical land.
So, during the early days of
COVID, amid the shutdowns and food
supply disruptions, Friday was hearing from
her Central American friends.
" They were starving, " she recalls. " They were
eating rotten fruits in order to live. " She began
contacting international organizations for help;
she says their representatives had pulled out
of the country. " There was no one there. " She
22 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
began putting together care packages on her
own, to send to loved ones.
But Friday knew the problem was bigger
than she could manage alone. In February
2021, Friday established a new nonprofit, Seed
Sow Grow.
To bring Seed Sow Grow to life, Friday
reached out to potential board members, wrote
mission statements, searched for donors, while
also fundraising and sending critically needed
food to her homeland.
In her research, she came across a worldwide
group, Seed Programs International, that
partners with smaller nonprofits to provide
In Dangriga, Belize,
a woman receives a
package of food staples
provided by Seed Sow
Grow. Seed Sow Grow
has fed 46 families in
2021 so far.
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF SEED SOW GROW
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021

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