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Unemployed Help Center Community Garden
by Louie Fiorino
UNEMPLOYED HELP CENTER COMMUNITY GARDEN, 6955 CANTELON DRIVE
The Unemployed Help Centre is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the unemployed & economically challenged in the Windsor & Essex County area. We have been providing various programs/services to address the specific needs of our target population since 1977. These include but are not exclusive to employment/educational/career counselling; effective job search techniques; resumes and cover letters; pre-employment training programs; on-the-job training programs; literacy; Resource Centre for self conducted job searching & emergency food assistance. We are a community-based agency, governed by a Board of Directors. We are funded through: federal, provincial & municipal government grants, the United Way as a member agency, private donations, the Windsor and District Labour Council and our own fundraising activities
The garden was FIRST established in 2004. This project has been spear headed by long time volunteers Ray and Shirley Gould.
In 1996 the Windsor Star produced an article on PLANT A ROW CAMPAIGN A SIMPLE WAY TO HELP OUT. It dealt with the following:
There was a kick off campaign which starter kits were distributed behind the radio station at 1640 Ouellette Ave. Volunteers from the Food Bank Association handed out the kits to at least 200 different gardeners. The kits were assembled from donated gardening materials. Merchant Paper provided the bags which contained seeds from the A.E. McKenzie Co., fertilizer from Vigoro, row markers from Sunshine Peat Products and various catalogues and flyers. The Windsor Food Bank Association organized the drop off point at the Unemployed Help Centre. The results were great the first year. There was a 105 people involved and they provided more than 2,200 kg of food which was distributed through 10 area food banks.
The Community Garden provides families and individuals the opportunity to plant and harvest their own vegetables. Seeds are provided for this initiative and there are 202 garden plots. Each individual/family is responsible for caring for their garden plot, and plants an extra row for community distribution. The "Community Garden" has provided fresh vegetables to families, seniors, person with disabilities and individuals in need, who are recipients of social assistance or struggling with day to day financial hardships. The clients have benefited by receiving fresh produce and at the same time they have retained their dignity by taking responsibility and pride in maintaining their garden.
The GWHS in partnership with Carl and Karen Baillargeon of CK Greenhouses donated some 13 flats of seedlings ranging from okra to zucchini and also green and yellow bean seeds. We also purchased fertilizer and tomato stakes to ensure a good yield.
Thanks to the following people who helped in the planting and harvesting of our own little patch; Louie & Lynn Fiorino, Dennis & Barbie Demers, Dwain Lariviere, Joan Padbury, Peter & Pam Gervais, Brenda Lehoux & her mom Velma Quick.
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(2009-12-17) |
