2024 Cultivating Community Grant Recipient
The Good Earth Garden Center is honored to announce The Station as the 2024 recipient of our Cultivating Community Grant.
This annual legacy grant was created as a tribute to the ongoing efforts of Gregg and Julie Curtis to nurture and help grow community in every aspect of their lives. During their time as owners of The Good Earth Garden Center, these efforts were concentrated not only on educational gardening endeavors such as local school gardens but also in supporting programs dedicated to substance abuse recovery, hospice support, churches, addressing homelessness, recovery and rebuilding after domestic abuse, health initiatives, building a sustainable farm in Uganda as a way for an orphanage to support itself and many others.
Our grant committee had the privilege of reviewing thirteen applications, all outlining worthy organizations and projects focused on growing community through school gardens, playgrounds, therapies, parks, uplifting mail and more. Our goal with this grant is not only to continue this legacy but to invite others to as well; at the end of this post, we are including links on ways you can join us in supporting The Station! Do you have an Arkansas non-profit who shares a focus on Cultivating Community? Visit our grant page for the application and be ready to submit yours in 2025.
What is The Station?
The Station is a part of Immerse Arkansas, an organization with strong roots in our community since 2008, focused on providing a climate for healing, growth and transformation for youths. A housing need for young adults in crisis was identified a decade ago by Eric Gilmore, Executive Director of Immerse. And it’s happening; The Station’s ribbon cutting ceremony was August 8, 2024; and what an uplifting, joyous celebration it was! The Station will offer emergency shelter for 18-24 year olds, but it’s more than just that. As described by Immerse, it’s protection for now and possibilities for the future.
This is one of several programs offered by Immerse; other include a youth center, transitional program and alumni support. The Station will provide housing during a time of crisis, with the coaching and mentoring support, along with connecting them with job, educational, housing opportunities.
What’s next?
The Station will be opening soon but there will be continuing needs; here are some opportunities for involvement:
Provide Dinner for the Station
Saturday Brunch at the Station
And here is a link to the online giving page.
We say it and we mean it… it’s because of YOU. Your support of The Good Earth over the past 50 years has provided us the opportunity to serve our community and we don’t take this honor for granted. Thank you.
