Cameron County Community Chest July Update

Cameron County Community Chest July Update

As of July 14th, we have collected $17,762 toward our $20,500 goal. Thanks to all who have contributed so far.

The Cameron County Community Chest needs additional donors to reach its community goal. The donor base has continued to shrink. New donors are needed. If you have not supported your community fund drive please consider making a donation to help them reach their goal. The funds raised help support local community services. Make the county proud and make a generous contribution to the 2017 fund drive.

This month’s featured organization will be the Garden Club. The Garden Club uses funds raised for their projects to beautify our community. The members of this club plant and take care of the flowers & shrubs at the Library, Veterans’ Memorial Park, Northwest Savings Bank, Citizens and Northern Bank, Emporium Insurance and the containers in the Downtown area. They do the seasonal decorations inside the library. The Garden club helps with the plantings at the Derrick City Post Office and rain gardens at Sinnemahoning State Park as well as taking care of the atrium at Guy & Mary Felt Manor. They club participates in the October Festival at Sizerville State Park and has a display at the Cameron County Fair. They also do litter pick up and recycling for a two-mile stretch of Rt.120W three times a year as part of the “Adopt-A-Highway” program. In 2010 they were asked to help with the plantings at the new visitor center at Sinnemahoning State Park. Two years ago they were able to purchase and install a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker at the Cameron County Veterans’ Park.

The theme this year for the Emporium Garden Club is: “GROW, Grow, Reap, One Garden at a Time and Wonderful Weeds”. The object of the club is to develop the knowledge and love of gardening for the mutual benefit of members and community.

The Club has many activities planned for 2017. On March 27th they held their Kick-off dinner with guest speakers Ryan and Brandi Magaro of Rich Valley Apiary who educated us on the many facets of beekeeping. On April 24th we had guest speaker Cheryl Shenckle, Master Gardener and employee of Penn State Extension, who taught us about soil testing, preparation and amendments. In May they continued our civic beautification in the downtown area. In June they learned how to make the best of container gardening with instructor being fellow member Margaret Harris. In July we will reap from our gardening crops by making Salsa with fellow members, Jill Perry and Pat English teaching us how to make vegetable salsa and fruit salsa. August 28 takes us to the Harris farm to enjoy a picnic and to learn how to make a wreath from the weeds especially goldenrod with fellow member Pat Martin teaching. In September Cheryl Shenckle will return to educate us on the “Monarchs. October brings Dot Yard to Emporium to share her knowledge of “Perennials”. Dot is the National Garden Show Schools Chairman, a member of the Waterford Garden Club, Garden Club Federation of PA and National Garden Club as well as past President for the state and a former District Director. In November we will be back downtown decorating for the Holiday season with many greens found locally. December finds us celebrating the holiday season making an evergreen arrangement and making a donation to a local charity or needy family.

Watch for information on the upcoming events and ways to help in our community. Volunteers are always welcome. For more information on the Garden Club, these activities, to participate in the activities, or if you would like to make a donation to the Garden Club, please contact Jill Perry.

The 2017 CCCC Fund Drive will stay open until September 30th. No donation/memorial is too small. Please send your tax-deductible contribution to: Cameron County Community Chest, PO Box 134, Emporium, PA. 15834, Attn: Judd Schager. Help to support the Recreation Board, Community Nurses, Red Cross, Friends of the Library, the Package Team, and the Garden Club.