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Can you remember the first time you picked a veggie or fruit from a garden, and experienced the joy of that fresh harvest dancing on your tastebuds?

Perhaps it was followed by the excitement of realizing where this delicious food came from and the empowerment of being able to grow such a masterpiece out of the soil. For some of us this first experience happened so long ago that it wasn’t cemented as a lifelong memory, and for others it happened later in life and we’ll never forget it! Whether you have kids in your life with whom you want to share garden-fresh food, or were simply once a kid yourself (anyone?), we invite you to invest in healthy food access today and for future generations with a year-end donation!

As with all of our six programs, the Youth and School Program has grown and adapted in response to the evolving needs of our community, now offering field trips, summer camps, Youth Garden Club, School Garden Leadership Network, Family Garden Gatherings, and the Families as Teachers Mentorship Program. Each of these programs thrive through strong partnerships, embracing a philosophy of continuous learning, and your support. 

Integrating these new programs alongside reintroducing in-person programming to a more accessible school garden space quickly showed how reducing barriers to participation, and supporting community-led initiatives, directly impacts participation. Your year-end donation, from $5 to $5,000, expands the impact of WCG programs and partnership. Thank you!

Opportunities to learn and grow are everywhere at WCG, and just like our Education Program I wrote about last week, the Youth and School Program prioritizes free and affordable access to knowledge through workshops, events, and online resources. Your donation contributes to Youth and School Program expenses like these, helping all of our six programs thrive:

• $25 covers the cost of supplies and snacks for one middle or high school focused Group Visit
• $50 provides the supplies and ingredients needed for a free Youth Garden Club program session
• $100 provides transportation for a Title 1 school field trip
• $250 covers the cost of supplies and snacks for four School Garden Leadership Network sessions to connect educators and community members involved in garden curriculum
• $500 covers one Family Garden Gatherings internship stipends focused on community building and mentorship for a season
• $1,000 provides lunches for participants in financially accessible summer camps

The Youth and School Program is another shining example of knowledge being one of the most resilient crops we grow at WCG. But we can’t survive on knowledge alone. We need healthy food and we need each other.

Please visit wasatchgardens.org/donate today to invest in your community with a donation that grows fruit and vegetables, cultivates comUNITY, and sows agriCULTURE for generations to come!

Let’s grow together,

Katie Dwyer
Executive Director

P.S. Your gift ensures that the magic of picking that first tomato isn’t just a memory for us—it’s a reality for children in our community every growing season. Whether you give $50 to provide supplies for a Youth Garden Club session or $100 to transport a Title 1 school field trip, your investment is put immediately to work right here in your community. Please join us in sowing the seeds for a healthier future by making your year-end gift by December 31.