Hello Gardeners - - - 

Upland Care and Rehab on Arrow (across from San Antonio Comm. Hosp.) is involved in a complete make-over of their skilled nursing facility. This involves starting a veggie and herb garden, constructing a "fine dining" bistro for indoor and outdoor dining using produce from the garden, renovating their patient shower area to be spa-quality, and involving the patients in activities that "give back" to the community i.e. patients making quilts to sell with the proceeds supporting a local shelter. 

I was contacted a month ago about helping on their garden project. Our very own gardener, Paula, volunteered to help with the project. I've since gotten one of our previous community garden members, Jenny, who is an amateur photographer, to take still life photos of the garden project. And our website manager, Rob, is going to make a slideshow to music with these photos.  The garden area is beautiful. You should drive by to see it start to materialize.

Along with two other "friends of our garden", Eleanor and Tony, and because of our diverse backgrounds, we now are involved in more in-depth activities with the Center's staff to enhance patient care. Of course, there is no compensation for these activities - we are involved because it is an awesome project and we feel we can make a difference.

Here is my "Call to All Members and Friends of the Garden" - - - 

1.  Paula can use some support. She is at the Center 2 to 3 hrs every Tuesday morning. Her schedule may vary in the next couple of weeks. Is anyone willing to step up and join Paula to be the "Garden Team" to help the project. This would involved interacting with the staff and patients who are in the garden as part of their physical therapy program. This has been a very rewarding experience for Paula and them. The Center would love to have lots of people from the community involved in this. The important thing is some knowledge of gardening so that the garden isn't wrecked by chemicals or veggies planted at the wrong time or picked before they mature. 

2. Upland Care and Rehab is looking to expand their volunteer workforce. Presently they have 40 volunteers who report to several Volunteer Coordinators for all sorts of projects with the patients. There is no set schedule. If you have a special skill, if you are a veteran, if you have a hobby, if you want to read or just talk with patients, etc. etc.etc. they would love to have you.  What's even more interesting, is that if you sign up as a volunteer through a new local volunteer program that was developed by a new acquaintance of mine, you can get something "free" i.e. local meal, game tickets, tee-shirt, etc. just for volunteering in your community. We are working to get this incorporated into Upland Care and Rehab's volunteer program.

3.  If you fancy yourself a good cook, or even a chef, would you like to participate in a "Chopped" competition that Upland Care and Rehab plans to do in their new dining area? Or, would you like to work on a book of simple, healthful, low-cost recipes for a recipe book that can be given to the patients on discharge from the facility?

4.  If you just want to sign up as a volunteer and then drop in to participate in whatever is needed by the staff for the time you can serve that particular day - that is A-OK.

Please email or call me and I will work with you to get more info and hopefully get you involved. Their critical need is to increase their volunteer pool in the next few weeks, but volunteers are always welcome. 

Mary  (H) 909-608-7438  (C) 941-276-1150