March 29, 2018

Garden

At any age, gardening is one of the best activities we can do outdoors. It stimulates all the senses, awakens our connection with nature and with our companions, and rewards us with fresh flowers and nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Through funding from New York City Food collaboration with Shorefront JCC, we were able to use space in the back of The Leader Family Food Pantry to create a community Garden for our seniors. The project originally started in April when a group of volunteers from RAJE came to help clear out the space and set up planting beds for seniors.

Since then, we are excited to report that our seniors have been getting together every two weeks to plant, clean and maintain this amazing garden. Presently, our seniors are growing tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, celery, and grapes alongside lilies and daisies.

Gardening is an excellent way for seniors to socialize and get a moderate-intensity aerobic workout and stay flexible.

I arrived in the United States in 1998. I came to SJCC because I was told they would be able to help me settle in the United States. My case worker noticed that I did not have a lot going on and did not have many friends or family in the United States. I was asked if I wanted to volunteer in the food pantry. That was the beginning of my 20 year journey as a volunteer at SJCC. Today I sit at the front desk at SJCC every day as a receptionist. This gives me the opportunity to be around interesting people and make friends. I am grateful to SJCC for the opportunities it has given me as a client and a volunteer.

L.G.