Congratulations to Fit-2-Serve, this month’s Hometown Grant winner with Denny’s in Mattoon! There is still time to submit your non-profit organization to win our next grant – just click here!
Here are the ways that Fit-2-Serve is serving our community:
- Fit-2-Serve is a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry that seeks to live out our mission based on Ephesians 4:11-13: “. . . to equip his people for works of service. . .
- As a not-for-profit (we have no paid positions), one of our goals is to become self-sustaining. Translation: we are ALWAYS in need of a volunteer force and donations to support our work in the community. With that said, here’s what our specific needs are:
- Volunteers for the Community Garden: located at 520 South 5th Place, Mattoon (I have a map & directions if you would want to post it. It is actually located right off of 6th St. near the water treatment facility).
o NEEDS: Scheduled hours: Any Saturday: 9 to 11am; Monday or Thursday: 1 to 3pm
o If an organization, business, pre-school, youth group, etc. would like to come work as a group, they could contact us to schedule “their day” in the garden
o Harvest time! We really need a strong volunteer force for harvest time!
o Additional gardening opportunities are available. We currently have a garden at Sunrise Apartments (S. 9th St.), Teaching Garden (located at the Presbyterian Church).
- In addition to a volunteer force, we love to utilize the 3 T’s: Time, Talent & Treasures! We have programming that runs from the beginning to the end of the academic year and would love to employ any of the 3 T’s!
- OVERALL NEEDS for those with TIME & TALENTS to share:
- Generation-2-Generation:Intergenerational Learning in which students participate in programming with residents of all 9 senior living facilities in Mattoon–approximately 500 students & 200 residents interact with each other September thru April!
- NEEDS: volunteers 1 hour, 1 time per month
- Farm-2-Table: Experiential Leaarning in which 150 first grade Williams Elementary students participate, learning how the food from farm to harvest gets to the store and into their tummies! Our goal is to pilot this program with two 1st grade classes at Riddle in the near future.
- NEEDS: volunteers 1 hour, 1 time per month. Currently, all classes are held on Fridays.
- Farm-2-School:Experiential Gardening Practices in which two Williams Elementary 2nd grade students are participating in the pilot program. The curriculum instructs gardening practices and experiences in the hope to encourage students to participate in community and home gardening.
- NEEDS: volunteers 1 hour, 1 time per scheduled classes
- OVERALL NEEDS for those with TREASURES to share:
- Each program would be sustainable with a $100/month partner to pay for the supplies/materials needed for the class.
- One final bullet point regarding “The Numbers”
- During the academic year, approximately 750 students (WES, Riddle, St. John’s & MHS) throughout the community are engaged and participate in one of our Community Bridges programs. In addition, over 200 residents participate in the intergenerational programs.
- During the summer months, Fit-2-Serve partners with the YMCA youth camp to continue the Generation-2-Generation program and Farm-2-Table, as well as provide a Learn-2-Grow program for campers to participate in gardening oppportunities. Approximately 130 youth participate in one or more of our programs!
Generation-2-Generation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cu_kcUJrIk
Farm-2-Table:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yqheYBrdMQ
Overarching project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BD9dV0Za98
Talents-2-Strengths:
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=lgPpb-Lmj_0