Like the rest of ECHO‘s teams around the world, ECHO Florida made some strategic “pivots“ to extend its services and impacts during 2021.

Developing Cross-Cultural Mission-Minded Leaders 

ECHO has begun a new partnership with Dallas International University (DIU) to develop its Intern Program into a fully-accredited Master‘s-level Certificate Program. While retaining the core hands-on, experiential training of ECHO‘s long-standing internship, key DIU courses have been added that will significantly enhance the understanding and capacity of our Interns to serve cross-culturally.

Increased Distribution of Highly Beneficial Seed Plants in Southwest Florida

Pandemic realities inspired a dramatic increase in gardening and planting in Southwest Florida. ECHO‘s Seed Bank was able to respond with specially-selected “seed bundles“ of desirable and reliable food plants, and ECHO‘s Propagation staff increased the grow-out of perennial vegetables and grafted fruit trees to meet high market demand while also raising support for ECHO‘s global mission. 

Distributing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

Early in the pandemic period, as concerns grew about increasing unemployment and hunger in ECHO Florida‘s “backyard“, ECHO expanded its plantings of nutritious vegetables. During the year, over 7,727 lbs of donated fruits and vegetables were distributed to people in need in Southwest Florida.

ECHO supported 25 schools, churches, and nonprofits in Florida with community garden assistance last year.