FIRST ANNUAL VOLUNTEER PROJECT
WEST VIRGINIA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION
LAUNCHES VOLUNTEER PROJECT FOR
YWCA SOJOURNER’S SHELTER FOR HOMELESS
(From a February 29 press release from YWCA
Sojourner’s Shelter)
Green space, play area, picnic spot and more will be created at YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women & Families in West Virginia’s State Capitol.
While the project is still in the concept
stage, the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
(WVNLA) announced on Feb. 28
that the group is going to make a dream come true for
the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter this summer. In
January, the 100-member association voted to donate
an ‘extreme makeover’ project to a deserving group
in lieu of its annual summer meeting. YWCA
Sojourner’s Shelter was selected from a review of
many candidates and WVNLA’s announcement to
create a green space, play area, picnic spot and more
at the East End location was greeted with great
enthusiasm.
YWCA Sojourner’s Program Director Margaret Taylor calls the WVNLA gift “a blessing for our Sojourner’s family”. By creating this recreation area, “WVNLA is giving the gift of joy to the parents at Sojourner’s and giving the gift of fresh air and exercise to all of our children,” she said.
Cary Levenson, president of the WVNLA and owner of Valley Gardens in Charleston, says, “WVNLA’s members are pleased to provide the funding, design, materials and labor for this project for YWCA Sojourner’s. It’s a good way to share our expertise and our resources for a worthy cause.”
Speech by
WVNLA President Cary Levenson
at the WV Nursery & Landscape Association (WVNLA)
Press Conference
at YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter
for Homeless Women & Children
Thursday, February 28, 2:00 pm
Thank you. It is an honor to be here representing the West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. From Morgantown to Huntington to Princeton, we’re over 100 members strong. In lieu of our annual summer meeting we decided to do something different. We wanted to give back to the communities in which we live, to enhance and improve the lives of others. Simply put, to make their world a better place.
After reviewing several projects, we selected Sojourners Homeless Shelter because it met our criteria, being non-profit and their mission represents the values that we seek. But it was the involvement of children that clinched our decision.
Most children today have a yard in which to run and play and be children. Some may have a swingset,
a sandbox, or even a basketball hoop, but most importantly, a safe and secure place.
Unfortunately for the kids that reside here, this has been only a dream, a dream to have their own
backyard, a dream for mothers who can watch their children at play and know that they are out of
harm’s way – a dream that provides green spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also
functional for everyone that lives here, a dream that meets the needs of this facility. We’re going to
make that dream come true. And here’s how we’re going to do it:
We are planning a game court to be separated to allow for older play and open viewing. There will
be play structures, located next to the gathering space so parents can watch their children play and
have conversations with peers. We plan to provide a welcoming entrance with seating areas and a
center planting area for a symbolic piece of sculpture and seasonal plantings. There will be an
outdoor dining plaza to be located off the cafeteria with access through new doors. Our plan also
includes greenery to screen the walls and dumpster areas.
Help Us with the Project!
Become a Partner In Project! Join other members of the WVNLA in building this
project for the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless. You may help support
this project by providing labor, materials and/or equipment and also please let us
know if you know others who may be willing to assist us in donations of labor,
equipment and/or materials. Your support will help ensure the success of this
project. If willing to assist please contact the local management committee as
follows:
Bill Mills 304-925-4754, Email: terrasalisgarden@aol.com
Becky Morris 304-755-0581, Email: riversidesod@citynet.net
Cary Levenson 304-342-2255, Email: vgiofc@aol.com