The Community Giving Garden on the grounds of the Viatorian Province Center isn’t just giving produce to local food pantries; it also facilitates connections through service, where people can come together to learn care for God’s Creation. In Episode 96 of Viatorian Voices, the roots of this ministry, its growth, and its ongoing function as a wide-reaching community partnership take center stage.
One community partner in the Giving Garden is the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, located just down Euclid Avenue. The volunteers from AHML maintain a plot and donate their produce, plus a little more. “They’re using it to do lessons for young people, so that they can learn how to garden,” giving garden coordinator Associate John Dussman said, shouting out Kate Ferguson as the leader for that side-project. “They’re doing so well, that they’re also helping by doing weeding outside the plots, too.”
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Our longtime partners at Wheeling Township often share their gratitude and commendation, including their letter of appreciation this fall as our donations surpassed one ton again.
Fr. Dan Hall, CSV, was the mover-and-shaker at the beginning, with support from Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, and the blessing of then-Provincial Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, and he tells the story of starting with an herb garden, expanding to ten raised beds, and growing now to 25 beds. All the while, as new volunteers joined, the goal of a harvest that benefitted neighbors in need never changed. “It’s really become a community garden. It’s not just a Viatorian garden. We call it the Community Giving Garden, because at the beginning of the season, we remind people why this was founded and what it’s for,” Fr. Hall said, citing the annual produce donations of half or more of each plot’s yield – including over one ton by the end of August this year.
After being elected Provincial Superior in 2018, Fr. Hall fully handed on coordination of the ministry to John, whose faithful dedication has kept it running smoothly and productively. The breadth of community partnership has grown to include a neighboring Christian church, the village garden club, the Children of Abraham Coalition, and countless Saint Viator High School families – plus a waiting list of folks hoping for a plot to open up.
Hear more from Fr. Hall and John in Episode 96 of Viatorian Voices on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.