Nunnawauk Garden Club Beneficiary Of Nonprofit’s Generosity

By Nancy K. Crevier

Judging from the clapping of hands and the “oohs” and “ahhs” elicited from the members of the Nunnawauk Meadows Garden Commitee as Golden Opportunities director Knettie Archard and staff member Nancy Taylor approached the gazebo on the Nunnawauk grounds Wednesday, May 13, one might have thought they were delivering a barrel of gold.

What Ms Archard and Ms Taylor did bring was better than gold, said the garden club members. The women delivered a wheelbarrow, hand gardening tools, gardening gloves, pruners, wildflower seeds, and a gift certificate to Home Depot in response to a plea put out recently by the garden club for gardening tools.

Golden Opportunities is a Sandy Hook nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who are isolated and lonely. “One of the things that Golden Opportunities also does is grant wishes,” said Ms Archard. “I serve as a representative on the board of directors for Newtown Housing for the Elderly and heard about the garden club’s request at a residence association meeting. I thought, ‘Golden Opportunities can grant this wish,’ and here we are today,” she said.

The gardening tools will make upkeep of the three-year-old memorial garden that is planted around the gazebo much easier, said member Barbara Wadleigh. “The gazebo was given to Nunnawauk residents by the Lions Club several years ago, but the garden really got its start with the donation of chairs, benches, and some plants for the garden due to the generosity of the Terry Jossick family. Terry was a former resident and after her death, she had requested that her family do something for the residents here,” Ms Wadleigh said. “So we have planted a garden to celebrate those who have lived here.”

Anyone can donate plants in memory of a former Nunnawauk resident, Ms Wadleigh explained, by contacting the main office at 426-5000.

The gazebo, gardens, and surrounding lawn have become a popular gathering place in pleasant weather for residents and their families, said Helen Dalton, a garden committee member. “And this year, the garden is so beautiful. It has taken a lot of work, and we appreciate this donation [from Golden Opportunities]. It is just lovely,” she said.

Nunnawauk Meadows Garden Committee is not the only residency that will blossom due to the generosity of Golden Opportunities. According to Ms Archard, the organization will be donating ten wheelchair accessible, raised gardens to area nursing homes. The raised gardens are currently being constructed by Mozer Construction of Medfield, Mass., and will be delivered by early summer.

Along with astilbe, bleeding heart, lambs ear, roses, iris plants, and tulips, the garden area has benefited from the donations of lilac bushes, trees, and other plantings, said Ms Wadleigh.

“Now, all we need is a birdbath….” she mused, surveying the springtime display.