Seeds of Serenity
CRANBERRY TWP — For the Southern Butler County Garden Club members, their recent project is about more than just planting seeds. It's about cultivating serenity with the proceeds from their annual garden tour. To that end, the members have been devoting their time and talents to VOICe.
“Since last year, we have been working with VOICe on a serenity garden. We are trying to bring some beauty and solace into the lives of people who are going through a tough time,” said Gina Bianchi of Cranberry Township, co-chairman of the garden tour.
Victim Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe) provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.
“When you must leave your home due to domestic violence, the place that should be your sanctuary, and come to a shelter, as you can imagine, it is traumatic and devastating. Even the word 'shelter' has a negative connotation. The work completed by the Southern Butler County Garden Club has assisted us in making our 'shelter' more of a 'sanctuary,' said Margie Wolfe, director of administrative services at VOICe.
There are now blooming flowers and a sitting area for peace and quiet on the property. The group also removed weeds, laid mulch and added greenery and lilies.
“The beauty and tranquility has been very healing for our residents and staff,” Wolfe said.
The project is fitting for the garden club's mission statement. “The SBCGC mission is to share our interest and knowledge in gardening with the public through participation in community service, beautifying projects in the community and encouraging a healthy respect for our environment,” said Bianchi.“Flowers add color and a simple beauty to any environment. Gardens are known to be a place that can bring solace and pleasure to people.“Though we realize our efforts are on a very small scale, we hope to contribute to the well-being of those who come to the center,” said Joan Corfield, committee chairman of the Southern Butler County Garden Club service project.The garden tour, which will be July 7, will help fund additions to the VOICe serenity garden. Donations will also be made to the local libraries for the addition of books and other reading material.Karen Faust of Penn Township has been gardening for 40 years and is a co-chairman for the garden tour.“All tour-goers start at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building where they receive their packet of information including the program book describing each garden and a recommended drive to the gardens including detailed driving directions,” Faust said.“We also have seven absolutely gorgeous baskets to raffle, as well as a door prize basket which each guest has a chance to win just simply for being a part of our tour.”Each basket has a value of over $300 and includes gifts from across the Pittsburgh area including a Troy Polamalu autographed photo, a Pittsburgh Penguins gift basket from their organization, several museum passes and baskets filled with gardening related items.The Southern Butler County Garden Club was first organized in 1998 as the Seven Fields Garden Club. As the club grew over the years, the name was changed to better represent the membership in the Southern Butler County communities.The club became a part of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania in 2004.
<b>WHAT: </b>Southern Butler County Garden Club annual garden tour<b>WHEN: </b>10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 7<b>WHERE: </b>Beginning at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center, 4525 Rochester Road<b>TICKETS: </b>$15 by mail, send to Debbie McFarland, 114 Hampshire Drive, Cranberry Township, Pa. 16066-4832; or $20 at the door from 9 to 10 a.m. on the day of the tour at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center
