Garden dedications symbolize community growth 

Samaritan House officially dedicated its two new gardens on May 16 with a festive celebration attended by residents, staff and Board members. The gardens, which occupy a formerly unused space adjoining Samaritan House's single room occupancy building, now provide space for recreation, relaxation, and even an opportunity for residents to hone their gardening skills. Also in attendance were Samaritan House's Advisory Committee members, Homes and Hope Giving Society members and other supporters of Samaritan House.

The ribbon cutting was officiated by the Action Ambassadors, a group of 15 Chamber of Commerce members, and by Connie Garcia, a Riverside Middle School student. The Seeds of Hope Garden was built in early 2006 with the help of the Fort Worth non-profit Feed by Grace and 60 eighth-graders from Riverside Middle School. Students participated in the Rotary STARS program, an initiative to engage school-age children in community service.

"The gardens are a visible manifestation of the teamwork and dedication that make the Samaritan House community thrive," says Sarah Deats, Samaritan House’s Director of Communication. The Seeds of Hope flower garden was dedicated to everyone who has planted and cultivated the seeds of collaboration and mutual support that have made the gardens – and the greater Samaritan House community – possible.

The Harvest of Hope Garden, built this spring with the help of volunteers from Richland Hills Church of Christ, already sports a flourishing crop of organic vegetables.

"It reminds us of what this spirit of giving can produce," says Deats. Harvest of Hope was dedicated to those who have been nurtured within the Samaritan House community and enabled to grow toward a new life of independence and confidence.

The event featured catering from Spiral Diner, music from Ron Dilulio, a star turn by our irrepressible parrot mascot Joe, and door prizes. Attendees also had the opportunity to plant flowers in the Seeds of Hope Garden. Speakers were Rusty Peterman of Richland Hills Church of Christ, Daniel Scroggins, principal of Riverside Middle School, and Greg Joel, coordinator for the gardens and for Hope Works, Samaritan House's back-to-work program that grew out of the garden projects.

Greg's new "personal assistant," a whimsically decorated 6'4" scarecrow, made his debut at the end of the dedication ceremony. The scarecrow was a small token of appreciation from Samaritan House for all that Greg has done in developing this project. With his efforts, the space has grown from a modest flower garden into a major program that benefits residents of Samaritan House and the Villages.

"During that time," notes Deats, "if I needed to find Greg, I looked first in the garden. I started to suspect that he might even have a cot hidden in the shed and might actually be living in the garden. We were wracking our brains for some way to thank him for all his hard work, and we finally realized that the ideal thing would be another 'Greg' who could watch over the gardens to give him some time off."