By Clare Kenny | Bomber Media
The Kenston Giving Garden Club runs on donations from the community and then gives back to the community by donating the fresh produce the students in the club grow.
Members include high school students of all grades who gain experience and knowledge of gardening and resource conservation.
The club’s president, Madeline Ramsey, and vice president, Anne Costello, undertake key roles in the club by writing thank you letters to donors, fundraising, managing the club Instagram account, and maintaining the numerous plants grown in the garden.
The fresh produce grown and donated by the club includes a variety of tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, kale, celery, green beans, and potatoes.
“The Giving Garden Club grows fresh produce to give to area food pantries including Bainbridge Food For Friends, the Chagrin Falls Park Community Center, and also a food pantry in Aurora and the Volunteers of America store,” said advisor Mrs. Connie Kramer.
RELATED: Giving Garden Club Supports Community (Ava Arslanian & Anna Hammerle)
The Giving Garden Club thrives due to its benefactors.
“The Kenston Giving Garden Club completely runs off of donations, and everything from soil amendments like compost, to woodchips, to our plants and fertilizer, to garden tools are donated from the local community,” said Mrs. Kramer.
The implements for the garden are acquired from several local sources.
“I do a lot of looking around on the Nextdoor app for people that are getting rid of things or having sales and I’ll pick up things there,” said Mrs. Kramer. “Local communities like the Civic Club, the Bainbridge Men’s Club and area farmers have graciously donated all kinds of things to keep us up and running.”
The Giving Garden Club is preparing the gardening beds for winter so they can continue their work in the spring.▮
一
Clare Kenny is a multimedia reporter for Bomber Media and a junior at Kenston High School.