Neighbors encouraging neighbors to plant for town benefit

To the Editor:

Spring has arrived, and with it many people turn their attention to preparing their gardens. Some people will begin by preparing for Memorial Day, planting flowers in the cemetery or memorial gardens to honor and remember our service men and women who have died, or loved ones who have gone before us.

Many of us will begin planting our vegetable gardens with the hope of harvesting a fine crop of summer tomatoes, beans, squash, or beautiful cut flowers. This is not a letter on gardening tips, but more an invitation for our

Green Thumbs in the Westminster community. This year the Westminster Town Benefit will be celebrating its 20th year of servicing our neighbors who have been hit by sudden and often unforeseen hardship. The Town Benefit so aptly named, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, helps citizens by purchasing services, goods, supplies, and even manpower in instances when a family is facing a crisis in their life. The help given to our neighbors often means the difference between serious hardship and getting over a hurdle on the road to recovery.

There will be many special stories in the upcoming months about how the benefit has helped others.

Today I am asking for something specific. On Sunday August 12, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Westminster Common (save the date) Neighbors Helping Neighbors will launch its 20th benefit day. For the past two years one of the features has been a farmer's market. The market has proven to be a special feature in that all the donations have come from our local gardeners. This year I am asking that all you gardeners think of the Benefit when you are planting.

Maybe you could nurture and grow a plant, or flowers, deemed the "Town Benefit Plant."

Just think, your plant will be growing more then just vegetables or flowers when it is put to good use to help someone else.

We would appreciate home grown vegetables, flowers, plants, fruits, pickles, relish, jams, and preserves. If you are canning maybe you might put a jar aside

for the market.

Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us so generously in the past. We have really appreciated and enjoyed all of your support. If anyone has any questions they may call Joyce Holroyd-McGuire at 874- 5693, or Dick Holroyd 874-2466. See you there.

Joyce Holroyd-McGuire

Westminster