News
August 17, 2012
Evergreen helps neighbourhoods make connections through community revitalization projects
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August 17, 2012 – Toronto – Evergreen and The Home Depot Canada Foundation are working together to deliver a grant program designed to support community service organizations in high-needs communities with hands-on community revitalization projects.
Each grant of $10,000 is intended to make a long lasting, positive difference in the grant recipients’ communities. In addition to monetary support, The Home Depot associates in each of the recipient markets will volunteer their time and know-how alongside community volunteers to complete the designated project.
The recipient groups and their corresponding projects are:
- Regina, SK - The North Central Community Association has converted vacant urban lots into community gardens where native plants and vegetables are available to everyone within the high-needs community.
- Winnipeg, MB - Immigrants Integration and Farming Worker Co-op Ltd gives new immigrants living in the neighbourhood opportunities to grow and access healthy produce, while interacting with their neighbours and developing new skills.
- Montreal, QC - The Dig this! community garden project by Le Bon Dieu dans la rue empowers street-involved youth by giving them the opportunity to build and maintain the infrastructure for a vibrant community garden and gathering space.
- Vancouver, BC - La Cosecha Community Garden, organized by REACH Community Health Centre, supports the environment and the health needs of immigrants and refugees living in Vancouver by promoting healthy eating using locally-grown fruits and vegetables, encouraging outdoor activity and celebrating Latin American culture, all while creating urban green space. Earlier this summer, The Home Depot associates assisted volunteers from REACH build new planters and refurbish the La Cosecha Community Garden.
“Enhancing great community initiatives that improve the environment though these edible landscapes, and the community connections that are made at these hubs are invaluable,” says Geoff Cape, chief executive officer of Evergreen. “Our thanks to The Home Depot Canada Foundation for supporting Evergreen and groups across Canada who work to strengthen communities and green their cities.”
“The Home Depot Canada Foundation is dedicated to sharing its time, knowledge and resources to support affordable housing and community improvement projects that benefit Canadians in need,” said Peg Hunter, Chair of the Board of Directors for The Home Depot Canada Foundation and Vice President of Marketing and E-commerce. “Our partnership with Evergreen is directly aligned with our goal of making lasting, physical improvements to the neighbourhoods we serve.”
Since 2005, The Home Depot Canada has partnered with Evergreen to provide community groups across Canada with the funding, tools, materials and volunteers needed to complete community revitalization projects.
Funding provided through the 2012 The Home Depot Canada Foundation–Evergreen grant program will support the purchase of native plants, gardening tools and supplies for the projects, as well as the ongoing engagement of volunteers in the planting and maintenance of these sites.
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About Evergreen
Evergreen is a national not-for-profit organization that makes cities more livable. By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities—now and for the future. In 2012, Evergreen, with the support of its various donors and sponsors, will be providing more than $905,000 in grants to community and school greening projects. To find a local greening project supported by Evergreen near you, visit the interactive map.
About The Home Depot Canada Foundation
As the charitable arm of The Home Depot Canada, The Home Depot Canada Foundation is committed to using its time, knowledge and resources to support affordable housing and create strong communities for Canadians in need. Bringing together volunteerism, do-it-yourself expertise, product donations and monetary grants, the Foundation supports affordable housing projects and local small-scale improvement projects that make lasting, physical improvements to the neighbourhoods it serves. Each year, associates from The Home Depot volunteer over 60,000 hours of hands-on service on community projects across Canada through Team Depot, the company’s associate volunteer program. For more information, please visit homedepot.ca/foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Anthony Westenberg
Evergreen
416-596-1495 x332
awestenberg@evergreen.ca
