By Lauren Bertovich
Corner Cupboard Food Bank has really outdone itself! A few years ago they began construction on a project that has become a beautiful, bountiful community garden and it is growing so much more than just vegetables!
Candace Tustin Webster, Director of the Corner Cupboard Food Bank located on Rolling Meadows Rd., Waynesburg, Pa, proudly speaks of this project and the many groups and organizations that have literally dug in, gotten their hands dirty, and helped this project become a valuable resource to the Food Bank and ultimately the community. The idea originated when Kelley Hardie, Director of the Center for Service Leadership and Bonner Scholars Program at Waynesburg University was visiting Tustin at the Food Bank to discuss projects that students volunteering during the annual Waynesburg University Day of Service could work on. Candace mentioned to Kelley that she had been reading about community gardens and thought that it would be wonderful to start a garden at the food bank and hoped to do so. The two began collaborating on how to make best use of the area surrounding the building. Bonner Scholar students from W.U., along with volunteers from the Greene County Community Service Department and several local businesses helped to construct, and prepare raised beds. Through the years many community organizations have helped support the Community Garden project and therefore the Corner Cupboard Food Bank, such as Blue Prints, the Waynesburg FFA, the Rotary Club of Waynesburg, and First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County.
“Through the years we have had lots of individuals, businesses and organizations interested in the garden and I am grateful. I really hope that the Community Garden project would serve as an inspiration and encourage the community to come together. And it has done just that. In particular, Darlene Vukmanic, her father Clyde Shaffer have been working so hard to keep our garden up. They come to work in the garden at least once a week and donate their time and expertise. As much as I appreciate their help, I also love that they bring their entire family to work together, the grandkids are being taught very valuable lessons. THAT is what the garden project is about.”
Corner Cupboard Food Bank is a non-profit charitable organization. Donations and volunteers are the heart and soul of the food bank and community support keeps the mission going. The Community Garden project is living proof of a community working together with carefully managed resources. Children from the Blue Prints Head Start programs in Greene County grew starter plants from seed in their class rooms as part of a learning exercise and now those plants are yielding vegetables and helping to feed their community. Wayne Lumber was directly involved in the design and initial construction of the raised garden beds and organizations and businesses such as Battle 4 Warriors and Waynesburg Milling brought in truckloads of soil. Any produce that goes bad and is put in the handmade compost bin in the garden and later used as garden fertilizer. It is a learning experience for everyone involved.
The Community Garden not only increases the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables to its 11 pantry sites across Greene County, it helps raise money for the food bank. The Food Bank is offering the opportunity for businesses to sponsor a garden bed, with their name and logo displayed on the raised bed. The Greene County Rotary club sponsored an entire bed but individuals may also purchase a portion of a bed as well.
This living project is a true example of how people can accomplish amazing things when they work with their heart and their hands. FMI, contact Candace Tustin at 724-627-9784, CornerCupboard.org or visit their Faacebook photos.