GBTS Community Projects
GBTS is dedicated to giving back to the community in Sussex County,
Delaware. We continue to look into new opportunities for the Club
to share their knowledge, skills, and love for gardening with members
of all ages in the community.
Every member of Gardeners by the Sea serves on at least one
committee.
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NEW PROJECT -- Millville, Delaware
Blue Star & Gold Star Memorials & Garden
Mark you calendar now for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Location: Evans Park in Millville, Delaware, 32517 Dukes Drive
Occasion: Dedication Ceremony for a Gold Star & Blue Star Memorial
INFORMATION POSTER printable flier to read and share
MILITARY HONOR ROLL FORM to enroll a veteran or active duty service member. Mail completed form and check made payable to Gardeners by the Sea to GBTS Treasurer, Mary Williford, 24900 Magnolia Circle, Millsboro, Delaware.
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BEACH & BAY COTTAGE TOUR
Club members serve as hostesses for homes on the annual tour, explaining the environment and design to visitors. This event benefits Friends of the South Coastal Library, a non-profit all-volunteer fund-raising organization that was founded in 1988 to provide support for the services and resources of the library.
CHAIR: Ria Carraro
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BLUE STAR MEMORIAL -- Bethany Beach, Delaware
Gardeners by the Sea partnered with VFW Post 7234 and the Town of Bethany Beach to honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces with a Blue Star Memorial -- an ongoing project of National Garden Clubs, Inc. CHAIR: Judy Stuhl
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GARDEN THERAPY
The primary objective of this committee is to put a smile on the faces of people who receive residential care at Atlantic Shores Rehab & Health Center in Millsboro, Delaware, or seniors who participate in activities at the the Roxana CHEER Center. We do this by sharing with them the joy of flower arranging and other skills related to gardening. This committee meets monthly, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., October - June, except January, at the scheduled facility on the Wednesday prior to our GBTS meeting. CHAIR: Margaret Woda
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Club members assemble container plants to be presented to the new property owner upon the home dedication and welcome the new homeowner into the neighborhood. Funds are generated through club fundraising activities and volunteer hours. CHAIR: Eileen Quigley
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HOSPICE TREE
Club members team together to create a theme for a holiday tree. All decorations and decorative elements (wreaths, ornaments, etc.) are handmade by the members. The decorated trees and wreaths are displayed at the Hospice facility and create an uplifting environment for staff, families, and patients. The decorations and trees are then sold by Hospice to raise funds. Funds are generated through club fundraising activities and volunteer hours. The location is Hospice of Delaware, Milford, Delaware.
Hospice Tree #1 -- CHAIR: Judy Stuhl
Hospice Tree #2 - CO-CHAIRS Linda Eaton and Audrey Young
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LORD BALTIMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GARDEN
Garden club members maintain a section of the gardens to help in the beautification of the school. Funds are generated through club fundraising activities and volunteer hours. Location: Lord Baltimore Elementary School, 120 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, DE. CHAIR: Thea Chandross
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OCEAN VIEW HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Garden club members support the Ocean View Historical Society by helping with their gardening activities on the grounds of The Coastal Towns Museum. We also make wreaths for the museum's Open House and participate in the Garden and Art Tour. CHAIR: Maureen Eisenhart
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PLANT SALE
Garden club members plan and conduct plant sales to help fund these community service projects. These events provide the added benefits of spreading awareness about our club and our activities, which helps us to recruit new members and educate our neighbors in the community about plants that do well in this area. CO--CHAIRS: Brenda Wimperis, Barbara Ware, Steve Zimmerman
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NOTE: Plant sales are held at Evans Park Community Center, 32517 Dukes Drive, Millville, Delaware 19967. Details about available plants, other garden-related items that will be for sale and the date and time of the sale will be posted in the ACTIVITIES area of this website under Community Events.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Garden club members assist a student living in Sussex County Delaware and attending Delaware Technical Community College majoring in the agricultural field with a GPA of 3.5 or higher by providing financial assistance. Funds are generated through club fundraising activities. CHAIR: Lisa Arni. Date: Spring of each year. CHAIR: Lisa Arni
WEBSITE
Garden club committee chairs generate content for Gardenersbythesea.com, a website that is maintained by garden club members with the goal of providing accurate and relevant information to the target audience (club members and the surrounding community) in a format that is visually appealing and easy to access. CHAIR: Margaret Woda
YOUTH PROGRAMS / LORD BALTIMORE ELEMENTARY
Garden club members develop and present monthy science lessons to children at Lord Baltimore Elementary School. These lessons are supported by literature related to the topic, a craft or activity to reinforce the topic, and journaling by the students. Our goal is to encourage in these students an awareness and appreciation of nature through hands-on experiences that promote caring for and protection of the habitat. View a complete schedule for Youth Activities at Lord Baltimore Elementary in 2022-2023. CHAIR: Pat Drizd
