• Community work
• Garden tours

Our Society’s main fundraiser was the Commercial Sponsorship initiative ‘Bright Up the Bend’ which ran again during the month of May. Local merchants were given the opportunity to help beautify our community by sponsoring a flower for a minimum $25 donation. Along with receiving an email outlining the program, society members also visited each business to meet with owners and discuss the program. The committee added a new step which included a visit to a local nursery where a table was set up, and volunteers encouraged individuals to be sponsors themselves or to recognize a loved one. We have a very generous community and over $3,000 was raised. All money collected assisted with the purchase of flowers, vegetables and herbs planted throughout the area in thirteen different gardens. Other fundraising activities included selling draw prize tickets and Share the Wealth tickets at all eight membership meetings throughout the year.

Through partnerships with other groups, we targeted reaching our youth and promoting the value of our environment. We participated in 2 events, the Lakeshore Eco-Network Native Trees & Plant sale and the Paint Ontario event. At each event, children, along with their parents, were given a firsthand opportunity to experience planting vegetable or flower seeds. Each step in the process was demonstrated from filling the container with soil, to watering the planted pot, to painting their own pot. Children were then able to take their creations home.

• Approved