GREEN SPACES AND
GOOD DEEDS

• When planting your summer vegetable garden, plant an extra row of vegetables for the hungry and donate the harvest to the Central Virginia Food Bank. Want to help? Contact Rick Holzbach at CVFB.

• Tricycle Gardens cultivates a greener Richmond and promotes health and sustainability one plot at a time. It has started community gardens on Church Hill and in Fulton Hill, Winchester Green, Carver and, this spring, at Humphrey Calder. A new service this spring is one-on-one coaching for individuals who want to plant an organic backyard garden. Fees support the nonprofit’s endeavors. Contact Lisa Taranto.

• Richmond’s Capitol Square is one of the country’s oldest urban public parks. It predates New York’s Central Park. The Capitol Square Preservation Council is reintroducing components of the historic landscape under the guidance of a recently adopted Landscape Master Plan funded in part by The Garden Club of Virginia. As a part of the plan, more than 50 deciduous trees will be planted. For the cost of perpetual care (and if necessary, replacement) a donor may secure a tree in honor of a person or an organization. The cost varies depending on the age of the tree--$10,000 is the requested donation for new trees. Want to help? Contact Alice Lynch, Virginia Capitol Foundation.

PLAN AHEAD FOR SCHOOL: The Henrico Education Foundation needs businesses and groups to join The School Supply Challenge. Groups collect school supplies during the summer and deliver them to their partner school before the students arrive. Interested? Contact Paula Roop, HEF Program Manager at 652-3369.

VIRGINIA FIRST: The commonwealth’s first Veterans Information and Resource Center is now open in Petersburg under sponsorship of the Association for Wounded Veterans Changing. It is a clearinghouse for services including claim filing, transportation, shelter, jobs training and veterans’ benefits.

CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY: Libraries are buzzing with special activities, services, book clubs, book swaps or sales, and summer reading programs. See what your local branch needs. Examples: The Lancaster Community Library in Kilmarnock needs “shelf readers” to organize and inspect materials. Share Network Access Point volunteers at Hopewell’s Appomattox Regional Library System help job seekers use computers. The Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library wants help with its book store. The Library of Virginia in the heart of Richmond seeks docents.

FRESH AIR ACTION

Nonprofits and schools are planning for summer now. Programs and camps always need materials and help. Most camps offer scholarships to deserving campers whose families cannot afford to pay. Ask your favorite camp or cause what you can do. Summer is high season in the Northern Neck, with its many festivals and fundraisers, all of which need lots of help to run. Recent postings include these:

• Runs and walks require lots of help. The May 9 Susan G. Koman’s Race for the Cure is a rite of spring. Other big dates: the “Walk Like MADD” event May 16 and Easter Seals walk May 17.
• Camp Hanover needs firewood and new signs.
• Grace Covenant Community School’s summer camp needs jump ropes and people to teach children the latest chants.
• St. Joseph’s Villa needs camping equipment and tri-fold science fair boards for its summer environmental camp.
• The I Have a Dream Foundation’s summer programs serve rising fifth graders. Needed: people to teach and plan sports and enrichment sessions and field trip sponsors.
• Special Olympics Virginia seeks people to cheer on 1,200 competitors at three locations, June 12-14.
• Music That’s Mine, Inc. provides personalized music therapy for hospitalized children. Its annual fundraiser is a summer performing arts camp. Costumes and props needed.
• Happy Acres Foundation, Prince George County, and the Richmond SPCA want sponsorships for campers.
• Petersburg’s Pathways YouthBuild USA needs summer mentors who will continue on into the fall.
• Hilliard House needs mulch for its playground.
• Historic Hopewell Foundation needs summer guides for Weston Plantation tours.