Lord Fairfax Health District WINS $1,000 Grant

The Lord Fairfax Health District has been awarded a $1,000 grant in the Beautification and Community Greening Category.  The KVB grant program focuses greater resources and attention on individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education. In honor of Earth Month, Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April, 2011.

The Lord Fairfax Health District will use their grant funds to build the sustainable, teachable and brand new Winchester Community Garden in the heart of Winchester, VA.  This community garden will serve many purposes and many people.  Girl Scouts, low-income African-American and Hispanic communities, and the at-risk and overweight pediatric population of Winchester will be involved with this project from the start and to sustain it for many years to come.  It will provide this community  an outreach opportunity that will not only beautify a plot of land, create an atmosphere of volunteerism, provide an ongoing educational experience for the youth but also provide healthy food for Winchester’s citizens.  Girl Scout Troop 40372, St. Michaels Methodist Church, WIC (Women Infants and Children), and the Virginia Cooperative Extension are all working with the Lord Fairfax Health District to make this garden a success, sustainable and a something  for the community of Winchester to be proud of.  For more information about Lord Fairfax Health District or their community garden project, please contact Paula Mills at 540-635-3159 or [email protected].

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of (30) $1,000 grants in three different categories: 10 grants for plastic bag reduction and recycling, 10 grants for cigarette litter prevention, and 10 grants for community greening and beautification.  These grants are made possible by KVB’s partners, Walmart and Waste Management.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment.  Our goals include becoming the leading statewide voice, providing a framework for improved communication and collaboration, cultivating and supporting sustainable programs, and engaging citizens by linking them to volunteer opportunities and information through these 5 impact areas:  Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling,Beautification, and Environmental Education.