The Skinny Pancake will be awarding a $500 Community Gardening Grant to the local food project that gets the most votes.

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Winning Idea by nmdreamcatcher

9Comments

The Children's Garden Project at Washington County Mental Health Services

Website

https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensGardenProject

The Idea

This grant will allow us to continue to offer the children served at WCMHS opportunties to learn valuable lessons about perseverance, self-sufficiency, cooperation & giving back as they connect with the land and one another while caring for the garden & preparing healthy meals to share.

The Specifics

The Children's Garden Project began as an effort to establish an organic Children's Garden on the grounds of the Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) division of Washington County Mental Health Services, Inc., on Beckley Hill Road in Barre, VT. These gardens have become a beautiful and nurturing place for children and youth with emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges to enjoy while engaging in opportunities that promote personal, social and vocational skills development. This project is being run entirely on the steam of volunteers and donations and this grant would allow us to continue our efforts and expand our growing season by helping us to build our own greenhouse with the children.

Discussion

9Comments

When else can we, just by casting our vote, help at-risk youth receive much needed funds for such a meaningful opportunity? Much thanks to GOOD and The Skinny Pancake for making this possible!

by gardenmama

4 months ago | Reply

I am a registered horticultural therapist who has worked extensively with hundreds of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental delays. I am extremely interested in continuing my work in my home of the past nine years, Vermont. Please contact me at BrendaMae52@ yahoo.com

by Brenda Mae Horticultural Therepist

4 months ago | Reply

Thank you, Brenda Mae! We appreciate your vote and will be in touch soon! If you can help tell others about our project and ask them to also vote, please do! Every vote counts!

by nmdreamcatcher

4 months ago | Reply

I can't think of a better way to help encourage and give a child hope through the work of his/her own hands.

by mem06030

4 months ago | Reply

Thank you for your vote and encouragement! If you can help spread the word about our efforts and ask others to also vote, please do!

by nmdreamcatcher

4 months ago | Reply

While helping all children establish a close relationship with the land and with the food they eat is important, it is that much more important for those children who feel the least connected, balanced, and whole inside. Children facing mental health issues are particularly in need of these sorts of programs, and I'm glad to see this project fulfilling that need in its community.

by indigoocean

4 months ago | Reply

We could not agree more! Thank you for your vote and your comment! If you are able to help spread the word about this project and ask others to also vote, please do!

by nmdreamcatcher

4 months ago | Reply