School garden program to receive $52,000 from Goosefoot, community donations

The South Whidbey School District Garden Program will receive $52,100 thanks to donations from the community and the Goose Community Grocer.

January 19, 2016 5:09 pm
The South Whidbey School District Garden Program will be the beneficiaries of donations from both the community and The Goose Community Grocer totaling $52
The South Whidbey School District Garden Program will be the beneficiaries of donations from both the community and The Goose Community Grocer totaling $52

The South Whidbey School District Garden Program will receive $52,100 thanks to donations from the community and the Goose Community Grocer.

The donations began in October 2014 when Goosefoot, a local non-profit community development organization, announced a challenge grant with the Goose Grocer of $15,000 annually for three years in support of the garden program. The community and the Goose Grocer donated $44,726 to the garden program in 2014.

In 2015, $26,050 was raised by the community and the Goose Grocer matched the total amount. The challenge grant will continue for the 2016-17 school year. Funding from the three-year grant challenge will allow for garden program staff to work with the school district in making the program self-sustainable.

The public is invited to join in the “big check” ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 4 p.m. at the Goose Grocer, where the donation will be given to the South Whidbey School District.