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LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics Steps Forward to Donate $7980, Funding South Buffalo, NY, Neighborhood Community Garden
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics Steps Forward to Donate $7980, Funding South Buffalo, NY, Neighborhood Community Garden Seneca Babcock Deals With an Uncertain Economy by Planting a Community Garden April 25th, at Former Buffalo Public School #26 -- Public is InvitedProject Information: Cheryl Bird Executive Director Daemen Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement (716) 839-8489 cbird@daemen.edu.
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, of Vancouver, British Columbia, has donated $7980 to fund a much-needed community garden in South Buffalo’s Seneca Babcock neighborhood. The community is one of the poorest areas in Greater Buffalo, with 40% of its residents living below the poverty line.
Ground will be broken at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 25, when residents, volunteers and government officials turn shovels and bust sod for the Babcock Neighborhood Garden. It all takes place at former Buffalo Public School #26, 84 Harrison Street, in Buffalo. This event is free and open to the public.
Established 14 years ago, LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics is driven by innovation and its ethics. LUSH offers a selection of skincare, bath and body treats, and off-beat gift ideas loaded with natural ingredients. More information at: http://www.lushusa.com/about/
In the best of economic times, residents of Seneca Babcock often struggled to put food on the table. Now, deep cuts in the New York State budget in health care and social services – services that the Seneca Babcock community depends on to survive – have community residents deeply concerned.
So the residents rolled up their sleeves, and got to work planning a community garden – which would provide easy access to home-grown food, while also serving as a catalyst for community development. The project was planned to engage residents of all ages in the effort.
LUSH stepped forward to donate $7980 to fund Seneca Babcock’s community garden project as part of its Charity Pot program. In 2007, LUSH launched Charity Pot hand and body moisturizer. Retailing for $20.95, every penny from the sale of each Charity Pot (excluding taxes) goes directly to worthy causes.
“When choosing charities, LUSH looks to support grassroots organizations where our funding can have the biggest impact,” says LUSH Spokesperson, Brandi Halls. “LUSH is thrilled to be part of this project. Not only will it beautify the neighborhood, but it will also change the lives of those living there and lead the way to a happier and healthier community.”
These efforts will literally begin to bear fruit and vegetables at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 25, when residents, volunteers and government officials break ground and bust sod for the Babcock Neighborhood Garden. It all takes place at the former Buffalo Public School #26, 84 Harrison Street, in Buffalo. This event is free and open to the public.
“This project is the next step in Daemen's long term collaboration with the Seneca Babcock community, which began in1998,” noted Cheryl Bird, Executive Director of the Daemen Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement. “The neighborhood garden will continue to make the community more sustainable, through a positive next step, leading to better nutrition and less obesity.”
"Children from the neighborhood agencies with whom Daemen collaborates will be involved in the garden project this summer. They will not only learn about growing vegetables, but experience the satisfaction, and learn the importance of seeing a project through from start to finish. An expression of this will be seen on the "Charity Pot" hand creme of the LUSH Corporation; "Babcock Neighborhood Garden...hope and health for the community."
“I thought it was a great idea,” added Connie Cuddihy, a 20-year resident of the Babcock neighborhood. “But I knew we’d need a lot of help.”
Help came from many quarters…with LUSH Cosmetics taking a lead role.
The community garden efforts will literally begin to bear fruit and vegetables at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 25, when residents, volunteers and government officials break ground and bust sod for the Babcock Neighborhood Garden. It all takes place at Buffalo City School #26, 84 Harrison Street, in Buffalo. This event is free and open to the public.
The Seneca Street Community Development Corporation, whose mission is to improve healthy lifestyles of Babcock residents, has been instrumental in helping the neighborhood secure a space for the garden and writing grants to fund it.
Residents, volunteers and government officials will be on hand for the April 25th sod-busting ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.
For additional information, contact Cheryl Bird at (716) 839-8489, or cbird@daemen.edu. More information on LUSH handmade cosmetics is available at: http://www.lushusa.com/about/
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