The Garden Club of New Jersey Teams Up with Habitat for Humanity!

Our new State President, Mary Warshauer, has welcomed with open arms our growing relationship with New Jersey’s chapters of Habitat for Humanity.  The relationship officially began in 1999 when National Garden Clubs, Inc. announced its affiliation with HFH and we first reached out to New Jersey affiliates.

Since then the relationship has grown and developed.  Garden Clubs have helped this worthy organization by providing landscaping for the newly built homes which Habitat volunteers have built.  It is our way of doing what we’re best at:  reaching out to those in our wider community, teaching about gardening and providing plants and expertise for those who otherwise could not afford them.

Habitat for Humanity is a loosely knit organization:  each chapter is an independently and locally run, non-profit organization with volunteers who coordinate all aspects of the work in building these homes. There are now 30 chapters of HFH in 18 counties through the State.  I have attached a list their locations with contact information.  But they have no money for landscaping frills:  Here’s where we as Garden Clubbers can make a difference!

Not only can we provide landscaping and gardening expertise in planning, planting and maintaining, we can also provide new vision to these homeowners:  How about planning and planting a Victory Garden?!  It could be large or small depending on the house location and time constraints.  It could be large enough to provide vegetables for a family of four or more all season long or patio planters with herbs, and vegetables in a more restricted space.  It’s up to your garden club to help this family in the planning and executing.  Teach this family skills they can put to use and see the rewards:  a beautiful yard and delicious produce to boot!

Now it’s time for your club to take the next step:  contact one of these Habitat chapters and begin the worthwhile experience of helping them provide more than just the rudimentary housing necessities.  All chapters I have contacted were intrigued with the idea of GCNJ clubs helping them “finish off” the house.  And the bonus is that GCNJ has funds to help individual clubs do this worthwhile job.  While we cannot fully finance your Club project, we can help make the project more affordable.

Contact me for more information.

CLICK HERE for the Habitat For Humanity chapter nearest your club. (MS Word doc - link opens in new window)

CLICK HERE for the Habitat for Humanity Web Site (link opens in new window)

Elizabeth G. Lilleston
HFH Committee Chairman
732 842 4349