Thanks to the generosity of Home Depot and the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc., the cooperation of the Utica Municipal Housing Authority and the organizational skills of Hamilton College student Jenney Stringer '08, a community garden will be created for and by public housing resident families at Utica's F.X. Matt Apartments, on Tuesday, Aug. 21.
The community garden is open to all residents of the apartments. It expected that many of the garden participants will be drawn from the development's large immigrant community, including residents from Russia, Belarus, Somalia, and Ukraine.
The families, along with Team Depot, Home Depot's volunteer crew from its Utica store, will start building 30 raised-bed garden plots that are 12 ft. x 16 ft. x 20 ft. in dimension. There are 30 families participating in the community garden, therefore each garden plot is registered to a specific family living within the housing complex. More volunteers are needed and invited to participate in the initial preparation of these permanent garden beds. Work will begin at 9 a.m. Those interested in assisting must register with Stringer via e-mail at jstringe@hamilton.edu or cell (315) 415-7863.
The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. provided a $5,000 grant to Hamilton College to support the creation of the gardens.
Home Depot has provided seeds and $500 to purchase lumber and supplies and the Utica Municipal Housing Authority has given permission to plant the garden at the apartments.
Stringer's work this summer is funded by a Summer Civic Engagement Fellowship from the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center at Hamilton College. The Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center focuses on providing support to initiatives in the Utica area and serves to connect Hamilton students with the world of public policy. The Levitt Center also donated an additional $500 toward the project.
Many residents of the F.X. Matt Apartments are from the Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, where gardening is a significant part of their culture. The community garden will be divided into portions for each family.
To volunteer time or tools for the project on Aug. 21, please e-mail Jenney Stringer at jstringe@hamilton.edu or call her at (315) 415-7863.
The Utica Municipal Housing Authority (UMHA) is the major provider of subsidized housing in Utica and operates public housing units as well as a Housing Choice rental assistance program. The UMHA owns and operates 1,116 public housing and subsidized units and is the administrator of a Section 8 rental assistance program. It is an Equal Housing Opportunity property management entity.
The community garden is open to all residents of the apartments. It expected that many of the garden participants will be drawn from the development's large immigrant community, including residents from Russia, Belarus, Somalia, and Ukraine.
The families, along with Team Depot, Home Depot's volunteer crew from its Utica store, will start building 30 raised-bed garden plots that are 12 ft. x 16 ft. x 20 ft. in dimension. There are 30 families participating in the community garden, therefore each garden plot is registered to a specific family living within the housing complex. More volunteers are needed and invited to participate in the initial preparation of these permanent garden beds. Work will begin at 9 a.m. Those interested in assisting must register with Stringer via e-mail at jstringe@hamilton.edu or cell (315) 415-7863.
The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. provided a $5,000 grant to Hamilton College to support the creation of the gardens.
Home Depot has provided seeds and $500 to purchase lumber and supplies and the Utica Municipal Housing Authority has given permission to plant the garden at the apartments.
Stringer's work this summer is funded by a Summer Civic Engagement Fellowship from the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center at Hamilton College. The Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center focuses on providing support to initiatives in the Utica area and serves to connect Hamilton students with the world of public policy. The Levitt Center also donated an additional $500 toward the project.
Many residents of the F.X. Matt Apartments are from the Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, where gardening is a significant part of their culture. The community garden will be divided into portions for each family.
To volunteer time or tools for the project on Aug. 21, please e-mail Jenney Stringer at jstringe@hamilton.edu or call her at (315) 415-7863.
The Utica Municipal Housing Authority (UMHA) is the major provider of subsidized housing in Utica and operates public housing units as well as a Housing Choice rental assistance program. The UMHA owns and operates 1,116 public housing and subsidized units and is the administrator of a Section 8 rental assistance program. It is an Equal Housing Opportunity property management entity.
