GOOD NEWS: A side-project of mine makes it to the front page!

For those of you who have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that an organization named Community Roots is close to my heart.  Besides just being started by my sister-in-law and a friend of hers, Community Roots is a non-profit group here in Coeur d'Alene that takes fresh produce and delivers it to local food banks, soup kitchens, and other emergency assistance facilities.

In the past 2 years, Community Roots has delivered over 7,000 POUNDS OF FOOD to people who need it.

Well, this past Saturday, a side project of mine, one that will partner with Community Roots to feed those in need, made it to the front page of the Local Section of the Coeur d'Alene Press.

Coeur d'Alene is going to have a community garden - called, A Shared Harvest.  Several of us are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen, but this is how it is going to work:

• If you garden and want to grow fresh produce for you and your family (and lack the space to do it), you can sign up for a plot at A Shared Harvest.
• 50% of the yield from every plot will be donated back to the Coeur d'Alene community via Community Roots.
• Also, two beds will be designated, specifically, for Community Roots and 100% of the produce grown on those two beds will be given back.

Coeur d'Alene has an AMAZING network of food assistance facilities available and, being on the Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene, I get to see them at work.  Their dedication to our community is enviable and we all benefit from their generosity.

So far we have a mountain of support from all across the community, including:

• Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene
• Panhandle Kiwanis Club
• Sorensen Elementary
• Coeur d'Alene High School
• Lake City High School
• City of Coeur d'Alene (presenting at town meeting tonight, live on TV)

But, the garden will be more than just a place to grow fruits and vegetables.  Plans for the garden include a sensory garden for the seeing impaired, wheelchair accessible growing beds for those dependent on wheelchair assistance, and a shaded picnic area under four 100-year-old oak trees.

If you are interested in getting involved, please feel free to e-mail me via the link on this blog.  Our next meeting is Thursday, March 26th.

If you are interested in learning more GOOD NEWS, please visit other entries in my blog...
or start one of your own!

Maryellen Garasky (in the photo above, sitting, red coat, lap top on my lap)
Mortgage Broker
KMG Mortgage Group
(208) 664-3600
(509) 638-3455
www.kmgmortgagegroup.com