Neighborhood Watch group receives gardening grant

First District volunteers Annabelle Rohleder, Gloria Oliver, Josephine Wilson, Polly Carter, Mary McIlvaine, Johnie Woods. Photo by First District Volunteer Annette Harpole

Mary McIlvaine of Neighborhood Watch sent over news that the First District Friends Neighborhood Watch group received a grant to improve the gardens at the city's COP Houses. Here's the news ... congratulations!

Racine Neighborhood Watch, Inc. announces a grant award of $1,500 from the Sustainable Racine Fund within the Racine Community Foundation. The money is to be used for enhancing the gardens at the Thelma Orr COP House, 1009 Davis Place, and the newest COP House, 1146 Villa St.

"That is good news," said First District Friends chairperson Cleveland Scaife, upon hearing of the grant award. "Know that we appreciate it."

The First District Friends Neighborhood Watch group also thanks the Racine Police Department and the Racine Community Outpost, Inc. for allowing gardening activities at the COP Houses.

First District Friends Neighborhood Watch volunteers have maintained foundation plantings and vegetable gardens at the Thelma Orr COP House for several years. They have received previous funding from the Sustainable Racine Fund. The First District Friends Neighborhood Watch volunteers are joined by area high school students from Walden III and St. Catherine’s High School, in gardening projects at the COP House and neighborhood parks.

Milan Meyers (in the purple hate), Gloria Oliver (in the black shirt) and Johnie Woods (in the brown hat) garden with Neighborhood Watch.

The perennials planted at the Thelma Orr COP House have been divided and shared in the past, and are being divided and shared again, for replanting at the new 1146 Villa COP House, and for interested neighborhood gardeners.

The grant will allow for the purchase of soil amendments, gardening equipment, annuals, additional perennials and shrubs, to beautify both COP Houses in 2008. The partnership of neighborhood and student volunteers, educators, police, and the property owner demonstrate what can be done when the community unites. The generous grant from the Sustainable Racine Fund within the Racine Community Foundation has made this a reality.