Volunteer Spotlight - July 2010
If you were to take a tour of our main campus on a Friday this summer, you would be greeted to the sight of teenagers hard at work in their garden. As they harvest strawberries, lettuce, and bell peppers, each one of the kids thanks Theresa Greene, because without her, UMCH might not have a garden this summer.
This spring, UMCH CEO/President Gary Lemmon contacted the University of Illinois Extension's Jamie Wheeler to ask for some garden guidance. Gary is a seasoned gardener, and it was his hope that this community agency would help our Residential youth learn more about gardening. Jamie brought the idea to the Master Gardeners and Theresa Greene quickly volunteered to head the project.
Theresa is no stranger to volunteering. As a Master Gardener, Theresa has spent the last nine years involved with community projects from display gardens to after-school programs. She even started the Jr. Master Gardeners program in Mt. Vernon three years ago. Because she recently became a certified square-foot gardener, Theresa decided that it would be a fun project for the Residential youth to get involved in.
"There is a lot of success with square-foot gardening, and I wanted the kids to have good results," Theresa explained.
From the first day, when the youth were up to their elbows in compost, Theresa has been extremely patient and generous. Many of the start-up plants were even donated from her home garden. She is a very gentle teacher and has taught the youth a lot about different aspects of gardening. Six weeks into the project, UMCH has a thriving vegetable garden. Last week, Theresa even showed the kids how to bake basil muffins with basil directly from their garden.
"The kids have been great. Seeing them work together as a group and seeing the garden come out successfully, it has been very rewarding for me," Theresa said.
So rewarding, in fact, that Theresa has decided to continue her involvement with UMCH. Though she started as a University of Illinois Extension 4-H volunteer leader, the youth have recently completed their 4-H requirements. Even though the 4-H aspect of their club has concluded, the Residential youth are all very excited to keep having garden club. So, Theresa offered to teach a Jr. Master Gardeners program into the fall.
"I think this experience has been good for them, something positive, and I will keep helping as long as they're still interested," Theresa said.
The garden has been a very positive experience for the youth and for the entire UMCH campus. We are so grateful for volunteers like Theresa who dedicate their time to teaching the youth and showing them that someone cares.
If you have a special skill you would be interested in sharing with UMCH youth, contact Volunteer Coordinator Joan Minor at 242-1070 Ext. 240 or jminor@umchome.org.
UMCH has many more volunteer opportunities listed here.