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Garden Therapy The Garden Therapy Program, which began in the early 1950s, provides funds for gardening activities for clients at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, and regional psychiatric hospitals in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Thomasville, and Savannah. It promotes the therapeutic aspects of gardening.
Each state hospital has its staff of Horticulture or Activity Therapists. Under their guidance, volunteer supervisors meet regularly, year round, with client garden clubs that maintain flower beds and vegetable gardens. Residents enjoy harvest meals and see the fruits of their efforts on the dinner table. Clients who cannot "get out and dig in the dirt" might enjoy working with container plants indoors. Expenses for garden therapy activities are supported by contributions. (Garden Clubs who donate $25 or more before March 1 receive a Certificate of Appreciation at the convention District breakfast.) Make checks payable to "GCG-Garden Therapy" and send to GCG Garden Therapy Treasurer Janis Stapleton, 544 Skyland Drive, Cornelia GA 30531-1838. Please use the Donation Voucher when sending your check.
In 2005, a seven member GCG Garden Therapy Standing Committee, with representatives from across the state, was established to review applications from the State Hospitals and make funding determinations to support the garden therapy programs at those institutions. Some of the hospitals have well established programs which we wish to continue to support. Other hospitals are anxious to develop a solid garden therapy program and are relying on our financial assistance.
Orientation for the Garden Therapy Program is held in odd-numbered years generally in Milledgeville, or at any regional hospital that wishes to host. Invitations are extended to GCG District Directors, various Board Members, certain staff members from each of the State Hospitals and others throughout the state who show interest in attending. GCG participants are expected to pay their own expenses.
Garden Therapy Downloads (PDF format)
Christmas Stocking & Easter Egg Project Garden Clubs throughout the state are asked to provide small hand made decorated felt Christmas stockings or felt Easter eggs for patients in the hospitals. Each Easter egg or Christmas stocking is a gift for a client. Clubs also donate $1.00 per stocking/egg to supply funds to purchase treats or supplies for a holiday activity.
See detailed directions on the patterns (Acrobat format). GCG Garden Clubs can choose to send their stockings/eggs to the hospital of their choice. Also, please use the Christmas Stocking/Easter Egg/Fig Leaf Participation Record when sending merchandise, so we may record your generosity. Mailing addresses of hospitals are printed on that form and are shown below. For accounting purposes, all monies must go through the GCG Garden Therapy Treasurer, Janis Stapleton. Fig Leaf Project Many clubs augment the garden therapy program with the "Fig Leaf Project" by sending aprons, socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, jewelry and toilet articles throughout the year, or at the holiday time when you send your stockings or eggs. These items are given to patients who might not otherwise receive such items from their families.
Send Christmas stockings and Easter eggs, donations of clothing and other items to any of the hospitals. Use the following addresses (with phone numbers for UPS):
Garden Therapy c/o Pamela Reese Garden Therapy Garden Therapy c/o Ranita Keener Garden Therapy Garden Therapy c/o Gail Raby Garden Therapy c/o Marsha Sykes Additional Garden Therapy Activities We of course hope that each GCG Garden Club will donate $25 to the state garden therapy program and make the felt stockings/eggs. After that, there are still many gardening activities that clubs can perform to help the less fortunate in our communities. At the State Hospitals, the staff would love for volunteers to come once/twice or on a regular basis to participate in activities with the clients. Or they would greatly appreciate additional holiday decorations for the community rooms and extra treats, snacks, etc. for parties. Contact your District Garden Therapy Chairman for details.
Don't forget your local nursing homes. Residents at those facilities are always cheered by interaction from local garden clubs. There are many awards available to encourage and recognize your efforts in this area. Mary Brown Pavilion and Gardens The dream of Mary Brown to provide a special place for privacy and beauty for clients at Central State Hospital came true in 1971 when the Pavilion was completed. In 1974 the gardens were planted and dedicated. Mary's promotion, along with GCG support, brought in donations from garden clubs, garden club members, former governors, the Georgia Nurserymen Association and hundreds of others. In addition to being used by Garden Therapy clients, the covered pavilion and eight wooded acres with walkways and benches soon became a favorite spot for all clients and their families.
In 1980-81 the Mary Brown Memorial Fund was established to insure care and maintenance of the Pavilion and Gardens. It was recommended that memorial gifts be accepted, but not solicited, and that a Board of Trustees be established to oversee and approve spending of available funds.
The Board of Trustees has not been active in recent years. In 2005, the GCG Board of Directors voted to use the remaining money in the fund as seed money to replace the deteriorating roof of the Mary Brown Pavilion. Also at this time, a "Raise the Roof" campaign was started to obtain additional money for that purpose. On February 15, 2008 (Arbor Day in Georgia), the Mary Brown Pavilion was rededicated with its new roof. GCG members from throughout the state were on hand to watch the planting of a Yoshino Cherry Tree that the Milledgeville Council purchased to commemorate the occasion. © 2013 by the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. |
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