Volunteers Sought For Glenwood Giving Garden

Glenwood’s Giving Garden has given away more than 24,000 pounds of fresh produce to over 500 families in Mills County in the past four years, with the numbers growing each year.  

With the growth of the garden comes a need for more volunteers to perform a variety of tasks.

“We are looking for volunteers who could give the gift of time, even one hour, working in the garden this season,” Glenwood Giving Garden spokesperson Anne Smith said. “So many times in life we think ‘someone else’ will do it. The time is now that we need you to be that someone else. Your gift of time will benefit so many of our local residents who are either elderly, at-risk, or just cannot afford to buy fresh produce. Please consider asking your family, friends, business associates or neighbors to be a part of this valuable community project.”

Smith said no experience is necessary to be a volunteer, just the desire to make a difference in the community.

“There is a job at the garden for people of all ages, in the sun or in the shade,” she said. “Volunteers could be planting seeds, pulling weeds, mulching, harvesting, sorting, washing or weighing produce, and much more.

“Sign up is easy with many options available, whatever is easiest for you.”

Potential volunteers can sign up online to www.signupgenius.com - click “find a sign up” in the top right and search for glenwoodgivinggarden@gmail.com.

“Check the times that work best for you, then push the “submit and sign up” button at the bottom of the page,” Smith said. “Or you can call Susan at 712-527-2924 or the Mills County Extension Office at 712-624-8616 to sign up. We understand that things come up, so it’s hard to commit this early. We also know that if it’s on your calendar, chances are that you will fulfill that commitment.”

Smith said the gratitude expressed by those receiving produce from Glenwood’s Giving Garden is the best payment a person can receive for giving of their time. 

As a “thank you” to those who volunteer, there is a “Sharing Garden” at the Giving Garden site. This is produce for volunteers to take home with them.