Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Homes gets Grant

Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April and May 2012.  Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Homes of South Boston has been awarded a $750 grant in the Beautification Category.  The KVB grant program focuses
greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of (30) grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories: Beautification and Community Greening, Litter Prevention, and Recycling.  These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

Patrick Henry Boys and Girls will be celebrating the spirit of community by creating gardens at several of their six residential homes in Central and Southern Virginia.  The purpose of this gardening project is to get the children outside for education, exercise, and the first hand knowledge and value of working with nature to create better and more tasteful diets.  Studies have shown that children who have experienced growing their own vegetables are significantly more likely to incorporate vegetables into their diet.  Childhood obesity and diabetes is a growing concern in all children, and especially within our Patrick Henry residential program.  Work has already begun on this project, as 32 free raised planting beds have already been established by Master Gardener Barbara Thomas of Natural Bridge, Virginia.  We are focusing on kitchen herb gardens, beds to plant “three sisters” vegetables (corn, squash, and pole beans), and both sweet and russet potatoes. These community gardens will both inspire our house parents, residents, and visitors to use the space and time they have to efficiently and attractively build edible raised bed gardens.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through 5 impact areas: Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.