Monday, June 1, 2020
Valley United Way, Massaro Farm partner for Grow Your Own garden initiative
Valley United Way announced last week a new partnership with Massaro Community Farm of Woodbridge in managing the 13 neighborhood gardens of the Grow Your Own program within the five-town region of Lower Naugatuck Valley.
When Grow Your Own started at Valley United Way over four years ago, a few gardeners and garden beds were producing fresh vegetables as the Valley was exploring how to address food insecurity.
Now, the garden sites throughout Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton contain more than 100 raised beds and have produced over 1,000 pounds of produce for community members and local food pantries.
As coronavirus has revealed the increased need for food in the community, Valley United Way sought to create a partnership with a local non-profit who could ensure the gardens were managed, and volunteers supported, in order to reach their full potential.
Massaro Community Farm, a nonprofit educational farm that has focused on food insecurity for over 10 years, was a natural fit.
David Kennedy, Interim President/COO of Valley United Way commented, “It’s a very common practice for United Ways to turn to non-profits in their community with a proven skill set to take on programs after United Way has incubated them.
"Such an action allows a United Way to better focus on its primary mission and work. In the case of Valley United Way, that means raising money to support our community’s network of exceptional non-profits, all with an eye towards making our community as strong and healthy as it can be.”
Eager to get started, Massaro will provide organic seedlings raised at their farm and will work with community volunteers to fill the garden beds with an assortment of vegetables. Tomatoes, lettuces, peppers, and cucumbers will be part of the collection that is planted in the gardens to help feed communities.
Caty Poole, Executive Director at Massaro, who is also a member of the Food Security Task Force of the Valley Council for Health and Human Services, has seen firsthand the needs of the community in the farm’s work with food pantries. "Now, when demand for hunger relief is at an all-time high, Massaro Community Farm is pleased to manage the Grow Your Own program to help ensure as much food as possible reaches families who need it most," Poole said.
Looking forward to the partnership, Kennedy said, “Valley United Way is so grateful to Caty Poole and her team at Massaro for being willing to take on the oversight of this project. The Farm’s expertise and experience, will ensure that the Grow Your Own project will have its best season ever this year - and get more fresh food to our communities during these hardest of times.”
Kennedy pointed out that “the Grow Your Own project would not be possible this growing season without the underwriting of a very generous and long-standing donor of Valley United Way, the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation. For decades, Mr. Lavietes and the Foundation have been passionate about Valley United Way’s work. We are so grateful to the Foundation’s directors for their support; without them, we could not be doing the work we do.”
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| Beaver Brook garden in Ansonia. |
A list of gardens and their locations can be found at www.valleyunitedway.org/grow-your-own. Anyone who wants to learn about volunteering at the neighborhood gardens can contact Corey Thomas, Education Director at Massaro Farm: Education@massarofarm.org or call 203-736-8618.
All volunteers are required to be in good health, wear masks, and to practice social distancing behaviors while working in any of the gardens.
This is a press release from Valley United Way.
Adam's House in Shelton to offer 'Grief 4 Graduates' pilot program in July
Initiative launched for 18-25 year olds
SHELTON - Adam’s House recently announced the launch of “Grief 4 Graduates,”
an innovative, free grief education and peer support program for 18 to 25-year-olds who
are mourning the loss of a loved one.
The program is designed to provide peer support, knowledge, and meaningful connections for young adults as they navigate their feelings of grief and isolation amid the life-altering disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re excited to start this pilot program because there are no other grief education services in the area geared solely for 18-25 year olds,” says Allison Wysota, Founder and Executive Director of Adam’s House. “This age group often feels like they have nowhere to turn for help because they don't quite relate to adult support groups, but are too old for children's groups. Given the wave of deaths following the coronavirus pandemic, more than ever bereaved young people need a place where they can feel safe, comfortable, supported, understood, and bond with peers their age.”
The “Grief 4 Graduates” program is made possible, in part, from a Valley Community Foundation grant award.
Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President & CEO, said, “We are delighted to support such an important and timely initiative for bereaved young adults in the community."
The “Grief 4 Graduates” program will meet at Adam’s House, 241 Coram Ave., from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays, July 2-29.
For more information or to enroll in “Grief 4 Graduates” call 203-513-2808, email AdamsHouseCT@gmail.com, or visit https://www.adamshousect.org/grief4graduates
This is a press release from Adam's House.
The program is designed to provide peer support, knowledge, and meaningful connections for young adults as they navigate their feelings of grief and isolation amid the life-altering disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re excited to start this pilot program because there are no other grief education services in the area geared solely for 18-25 year olds,” says Allison Wysota, Founder and Executive Director of Adam’s House. “This age group often feels like they have nowhere to turn for help because they don't quite relate to adult support groups, but are too old for children's groups. Given the wave of deaths following the coronavirus pandemic, more than ever bereaved young people need a place where they can feel safe, comfortable, supported, understood, and bond with peers their age.”
The “Grief 4 Graduates” program is made possible, in part, from a Valley Community Foundation grant award.
Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President & CEO, said, “We are delighted to support such an important and timely initiative for bereaved young adults in the community."
The “Grief 4 Graduates” program will meet at Adam’s House, 241 Coram Ave., from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays, July 2-29.
For more information or to enroll in “Grief 4 Graduates” call 203-513-2808, email AdamsHouseCT@gmail.com, or visit https://www.adamshousect.org/grief4graduates
This is a press release from Adam's House.
Recuperation journey: Oh, nuts!
This is a lucky capture through the front door this morning. Happy Monday!
Stone Gardens Farm in Shelton slates Saturday music series
The farm is located at 83 Saw Mill City Road in Shelton.