Wednesday, December 16, 2009

MLK Day of Service


MLK Day of Service 2010

A Project of the Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition

The Martin Luther King Day of Service 2010 will promote Dr. King’s vision of building broad and diverse coalitions, breaking down barriers, and making our community the best it can be. Last year, the Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition (HOT UGC) had great success in recruiting almost 1000 volunteers that served at 12 different sites throughout the city of Waco. This year the Coalition has decided to work more closely with a smaller number of sites and increase the amount of educational activities provided at each site. On January 18, 2010, the HOT UGC will coordinate gardening projects at nine different sites throughout Waco as a part of the Day of Service.

HOT UGC was formed five years ago to encourage: sustainable community development, cooperation between organizations and community members, and production and consumption of healthy vegetables – all through gardening in the city of Waco. The MLK Day of Service is a day when volunteers are mobilized to support these goals. Gardening activities will include preparing and planting vegetable beds, cleaning up and beautifying surrounding areas, and other projects specific to the gardening site. Each garden will be provided seed potatoes, greens transplants, onion sets, flower transplants, tools, gloves, trash bags, and other supplies needed for gardening.

In addition to gardening activities, an educational fair with booths from community organizations, providing opportunities for participants to learn more about healthy cooking, gardening, composting, and food budgeting. The hope is to have some healthy cooking demonstrations to provide volunteers a taste of the bounty that is to come from the garden. A healthy lunch using fresh vegetables will be prepared and served by Baylor University Campus Kitchens for participants at each gardening site.

The HOT UGC is excited about your participation in serving our community. As Dr. King said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”

For more information, please contact: Bethel Erickson – Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition

vista@worldhungerrelief.org or 254-799-5611