A quiet murmur moved through the crowd.
"So, we're dividing these in small batches. Each family will receive a box—some will get eggs that still need hatching, and some will get the newly hatched chicks. We've brought heat lamps, instructions, and feeding schedules."
I could see a few hands rise—mothers stepping forward eagerly, others whispering to their daughters. Lucy began distributing the boxes while Autumn helped explain how to use old wooden crates and heated cloth to mimic a brooder box.
One woman, middle-aged with strong arms, looked up and asked, "And after the chicks grow, we give them back?"
"No," I smiled. "They stay with you. You'll raise them. Their eggs will be collected by our supply team, and we'll rotate to ensure nobody is overburdened. But they're yours. If we succeed in this, we'll have meat and eggs for every family here, even through the harshest days."
There were nods—hesitant at first, then confident.
