Coal Valley, IL – May 7, 2018– Arrowhead Ranch is joining the Rise Up Garden project this summer. Please join us on Saturday May 12, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. as we get the first plants in the ground for the season at Arrowhead’s Coal Valley campus located at 12200 104th Street, Coal Valley, Illinois.
Arrowhead Youth and Family Services (a.k.a Arrowhead Ranch) has a beautiful garden plot located on the Coal Valley campus, each year Arrowhead youth prepare, plant and harvest a variety of vegetables. All of the vegetables grown are served or given to the youth, their families and the staff. “There is a lot of growing done in the garden and it isn’t just the produce. The youth learn so many things from the time the first seed is planted. I am always amazed at the care and compassion shown toward the plants and their produce” said Mary Davidson, Marketing and Development director at Arrowhead. About a year ago, Arrowhead and Rise Up began talking about their similar programs and decided that working together was
The Rise Up Project was created 3 years ago. “The goal was to instill in court referred youth a workforce and career development program. We thought using basic gardening as a platform to put these youth in a setting where they can learn employment, interpersonal relationships and communication skills was ideal. The youth that are referred to us get to learn about themselves and also give to the community” said Jana Haskins, Unit Chief of the Juvenile Division of Rock Island County Court Services.
The Rise Up Project interview process begins in April and the graduation is at the end of July. “One of our goals is to have a farm stand on the corner near our campus in Coal Valley this July, giving the youth an opportunity to work with people in a customer service setting” Davidson added.The youth are required to attend 3 days a week (2 days in the garden and 1 day doing community tours), participate in all activities, complete tasks as assigned and work appropriately with all workers and staff. Financial stipends and bonuses are given to youth who follow the employment contract.
Thank you to the following collaborators; Rock Island County Court Services, 15th Avenue Christian Church, QC Career connections, Victor and Doris Day Foundation, Rock Island Community fund, Community fund of the Great River Bend, IL/WI Christian Churches, The National Benevolent Assoc., River Bend Food Bank, Tax Slayer Center, WIU, Augustana, Blackhawk, Scott Community College and many other community partners, volunteers and donors.
Please join us on Saturday, May 12, 2018 as we get together at Arrowhead, 12200 104th Street, Coal Valley, Illinois as we get the first plants in the ground. Planting times are 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
For more information, please contact Mary Davidson at 309-799-7044x270 or email mdavidson@arrowheadyouth,org
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