ROCKTON, Ill. (WIFR) – The Roscoe Gardening Club collaborates with the Rockton United Methodist Church to launch a community garden on their site at 102 W. Chapel St. in Rockton.
“We want to reach out to the community and let them know that God’s love comes in a lot of ways, it doesn’t have to be sitting an hour on Sunday, it can be a lot of other things,” Rockton United Methodist Church outreach and fundraiser coordinator David Wellen said.
The garden will grow fresh vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, squash, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These will be used to help the congregation of the Church feed families in need.
“We definitely want to be part of the community, and we definitely want to be at service to the community,” Wellen said.
According to a statement, the Roscoe Gardening Club says the harvests will also be distributed to local food pantries and “others in need facing food insecurity.”
“I’m excited,” Roscoe Gardening Club President Renee Mealey said. “I think it will be a great success and hopefully we will be able to go to other communities and establish community gardens.”
Mealey says this project was possible thanks to donations from the community. The Roscoe Gardening Club received $2,250 worth of donations from the Slabaugh Services in Machesney Park, which includes the dirt that was set in the beds. They also received a $1,000 donation from an anonymous donor for the four beds.
Volunteers with the Roscoe Gardening Club will conduct the first planting day in the community garden on May 15. The event is free and open to the public.
“Community outreach, especially these days, when our society is so fractured, is important to bring us together,” Mealey said. “I’m hoping this will mend some fences in the community.”
Additional information on the community garden and on how to participate can be found on the Roscoe Gardening Club’s website and Facebook page.
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