Volunteers still needed for Community Garden work

BY PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON - About a dozen people helped get the Fort Madison Community Garden put in the ground Thursday morning.

The project is coordinated by Tammy Hudson, director of the United Way of the Great River Region's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. The garden generates produce that is donated to the Fort Madison Food Pantry throughout the summer.

The food helps those suffering with food insecurities in and around Fort Madison.

Volunteers including United Way Director Karen Siefken and her husband tilled the garden beds last week, and then volunteers went to work weeding, planting and grooming the garden beds Thursday morning.

Hudson said she's still in need of volunteers to help tend to the garden throughout the summer.

"We also encourage more volunteers who want to help fight food insecurity in their community to come and help weekly to weed, clean up trash, water, etc. (1-2 days per week), and then when ready to harvest in about 60 days, volunteers to help harvest all produce to be taken back to the Fort Madison Food Pantry," Hudson said.

Volunteers on Thursday including groups from RSVP, the food pantry, DuPont, Lee County Health Department, Lee County Conservation District. Hudson also thanked the City of Fort Madison and Hy-Vee for helping coordinate the garden.

Those interested in helping can call Tammy at the RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)/UWGRR office at 319-372-8043. The garden is located behind Hy-Vee in Fort Madison in the 2600 block of Avenue L.