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Volunteers looking to make a difference on Earth Day will gather April 22 at the West Port Arthur Community Garden to get the garden prepped for planting.

United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County is hosting the upcoming event at 601 W. 8th St. Volunteers will spend time from 9 a.m. to noon re-soiling the raised beds, installing play equipment and preparing the garden. The Valero Team will be on hand to provide a picnic lunch for all involved. 

A second section of time is set from 12:30 to 3 p.m. to plant the garden beds for a summer harvest that will support the community and local soup kitchens. A group of second graders from Washington Elementary School will be using their gardening skills to assist at the afternoon portion.

Janie Johnson/CEO of United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County, said this will be the first community level event; in the past it was undertaken by specific groups. 

Those wishing to roll up their sleeves and get to work are asked to RSVP. For more information call 409-729-4040. 

The garden project is part of the local United Way’s community resiliency program where “food insecurity is definitely a need,” Johnson said.

“And that’s why we’re not only involved with the garden but we’ve partnered with the West Port Arthur Community Garden Board for three years now and we do day-to-day management,” she said.

The Garden

The West Port Arthur Community Garden opened in 2019 with support from Valero and a small group of community leaders that now serve as the West Port Arthur Community Garden Board. 

“With a focus on food insecurities, and the enormous benefit the Garden offers to the community, the United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County entered into a partnership with the West Port Arthur Community Garden Board to help support the growth of the Garden and its impact to the community” according to information from United Way.

Organizers keep a waiting list for individuals/groups wanting a garden spot. About half are community adopted and half are planted and managed by United Way volunteers for the community.