The Seeds We Plant Today - A Letter from the CEO

There’s a saying I have carried with me lately: “The seeds we plant today provide the shade for tomorrow.” Shared with me by my friend and IW Board Member Dr. Suresh Gupta, it offers a powerful way to think about the legacy of Interfaith Works and how the small acts of care we take today can grow into lasting change for our community. 

Earlier this summer, we lost a visionary leader and friend, Rev. Lon Dring. In his passing, we are reminded of the immense legacy he leaves behind. Rev. Dring not only founded Interfaith Works but also started a food program that grew into what we know today as Manna Food Center and was among the earliest local supporters of Habitat for Humanity. 

Rev. Dring had a unique gift for seeing the unmet needs of his neighbors and understanding that compassionate, collective action was required. He believed community is strengthened when we step forward to care for one another. 

What is legacy, if not the act of sowing seeds that last beyond us, continuing to nurture and shelter those who come after? The seeds Rev. Dring planted more than 50 years ago have grown into a canopy of programs that sustain and uplift our Montgomery County neighbors today. 

It is almost impossible to imagine what our community would look like without him. Could Rev. Dring have known the impact Interfaith Works and the programs he nurtured would have across generations? His vision was bold, his commitment unwavering, and his belief in the power of community continues to guide us. 

Today, we are called to do the same. The needs may look different than the challenges in 1972, but the urgency remains. Families face new barriers, neighbors continue to struggle, and our community needs us — just as it needed Rev. Dring more than five decades ago. 

We honor his memory not only by remembering his vision, but by continuing his work. Each of us must commit to planting good seeds today, so that those who come after us can find strength, hope, and shelter in the shade tomorrow. 

Sincerely,

Courtney Hall, CEO