QUILCENE — Plants and trees aren’t just beautifying South County homes and communities this year. Their sales, generated by the Quilcene-Brinnon Garden Club, have resulted in $5,700 in grants this year.
The grants were presented to a dozen area service organizations Thursday.
According to long time members, the club has been donating funds for more than 50 years. The organization was begun in the 1930s, dissolved during the war years, and restarted in 1946. It has been in operation ever since.
“This year’s 12 grant recipients continue to provide meaningful and effective services to the local community, and the Quilcene-Brinnon Garden Club is very pleased to offer them our support,” said treasurer Bob Bindschadler.
Bindschadler said for the first time, organizations were asked to submit a written proposal and identify a project that relates to the mission of the garden club: to enhance the communities through work projects and donations, and to promote an interest in civic improvement and conservation of the natural resources of the county.
This was also the first time a meeting was held to publicly announce the grant winners. In the past, a check would be sent by mail.
The board determined that was a faceless, impersonal gesture and wanted to celebrate the winners.
Checks of varying amounts were given to representatives from each organization.
Recipients are:
• Brinnon Food Bank. Eloise Lackenbach told the club members, “There is a need in Brinnon and you’ve made an extra effort to recognize the need.”
• Center Valley Animal Rescue. Sarah Penhallegon said, “We try to be a community-based organization and help all the animals in the community. The funds will be used to build a flight cage for rehabilitating birds.”
• Quilcene-Brinnon Dollars for Scholars Program, which has operated for 19 years. Jim Hodgson said the funds will be added to an endowment fund in perpetuity. Last year, the program awarded $125,000 in scholarships.
• Literacy Council of Jefferson County. Karen Grooms said the funds will go to the Quilcene School’s second grade “Read to Rover” program.
“Dogs come in and children read to the dogs and it comforts them,” Grooms said. “Each child receives the same book at the end of the school year and it is personalized for them.”
• Olympic Mountain Pet Pals. Pam Kolacy said the money will help some residents in the Brinnon and Quilcene area pay veterinary expenses for their pets.
• Quilcene Food Bank. Leslie Tippens said that Tuesday the food bank has hit a record.
“It was the first time we’ve fed 248 people,” Tippens said. “The need is huge right now for our food bank.”
• Quilcene Gardens. Anne Ricker and Leslie Bunton accepted the gift earmarked “for seeds, wheelbarrows and soil testing kits so we can grow more food for the food bank.”
• Quilcene Historical Museum’s Worthington Mansion. The grant was accepted by Sandy Shea. The money will be used for two big porch planters for the mansion’s renovation project.
• Quilcene School Garden. Teacher Erin Yeakel applied for funds to be used to purchase a wheelbarrow. Juanita Thomas accepted the grant saying the program has expanded to two days a week. Classes plant, tend, and harvest crops used for meals at the school.
• Quilcene P-Patch’s Karen Gale said, “We have just about as many deer as people here. It’s wonderful to have help in the garden pruning, but not from the deer.”
Funds will be used to replace the deer fencing that has deteriorated over the years.
• Weekend Nutrition Program, which has been supported by the club for a number of years. Volunteer Bonnie Douglass said 56 students in Quilcene and Brinnon receive weekend meals and the funds will go towards providing the food.
• World Vision Essential Supplies Program, which brings supplies to the Quilcene and Brinnon area. Kay Peterson said the funds will be used for membership dues. “
You work hard for this so we can work hard for the community,” Peterson said.
The Quilcene-Brinnon Garden Club’s plant sale is the group’s main fundraiser. It is held each year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
“The sale offers great prices on a wide variety of plants including annuals, perennials, natives, exotics, decoratives and edibles for indoors and outdoors, in sizes ranging from large to small,” Bindschadler said.
The plants are raised by members and the club receives donations from nurseries for the larger trees and shrubs that are offered. The club plans an even larger event next year.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
