Garden Club donation underwrites purchase, installation of new refrigeration system

Bonnie Pfiester
·2 min read
From left: Cindy Day, Jasmine Circle; Greg Valiades, Shining Light Garden; Kitty Kennedy, Seagrape Circle; Nancy Shaver, Allamanda Circle; Carol Christianson, Jasmine Circle; Joel Bray, Shining Light founder; and Nancy Edmiston, Jasmine Circle.
From left: Cindy Day, Jasmine Circle; Greg Valiades, Shining Light Garden; Kitty Kennedy, Seagrape Circle; Nancy Shaver, Allamanda Circle; Carol Christianson, Jasmine Circle; Joel Bray, Shining Light founder; and Nancy Edmiston, Jasmine Circle.

VERO BEACH — Shining Light Garden Foundation Inc, a nonprofit organization that grows fresh vegetables to help feed the homeless, hungry and forgotten, is now the proud owner of a new refrigeration system thanks to the Garden Club of Indian River County’s $10,000 donation.

The Garden Club partnered with Jasmine Circle to underwrite the purchase and installation of a new refrigeration system to keep the produce from spoiling as it awaits distribution.

Shining Light gives Garden Club members a tour of their new refrigerator.
Shining Light gives Garden Club members a tour of their new refrigerator.

Club members are divided into nine Circles. Each Circle has its own president, officers and committee chairmen, and conduct their own fund-raising activities to support their individual civic activities. All the Circles come together to accomplish overall activities including Gardenfest!, ornament sales and maintaining the center’s building and grounds.

Garden Club members wowed by the size of their zucchini. Pictured from left: Carol Christianson, Nancy Edmiston, Cindy Day, Kitty Kennedy and Nancy Shaver.
Garden Club members wowed by the size of their zucchini. Pictured from left: Carol Christianson, Nancy Edmiston, Cindy Day, Kitty Kennedy and Nancy Shaver.

Several other Circles also recently donated to the garden, including Allamanda, Poinsettia and Rose Circles. The Garden Club of Indian River County and its nine Circles have been consistent donors to Shining Light Garden and many members volunteer there regularly.

The Garden Club of Indian River County supports a variety of local organizations and schools in Indian River County with monetary donations, scholarships and volunteer work. Members include both novice and experienced gardeners who enjoy learning and supporting the beautification of our county.

Founder Joel Bray driving a tractor.
Founder Joel Bray driving a tractor.

Shining Light Garden was founded by Joel Bray in Winter Beach in 2008. It began as a backyard project and has expanded into a 20-acre farm. Since then, Joel's passion for farming has grown into thousands of bushels of food to help feed the hungry. There is also a flower garden whose bounty brings cheer to those in need, such as providing flowers for the VNA Hospice House. Shining Light is a volunteer organization and 100% of all donations are used in the garden.

To learn more about the Garden Club of Indian River County and its impact on the community, visit www.gardenclubofirc.org.

Volunteer Joe Idlette picking cucumbers.
Volunteer Joe Idlette picking cucumbers.
Cucumbers hiding under the big leaves and surrounded by bright yellow flowers.
Cucumbers hiding under the big leaves and surrounded by bright yellow flowers.
Shining Light Garden also grows flowers to gift to people who are hurting, lonely or sick.
Shining Light Garden also grows flowers to gift to people who are hurting, lonely or sick.
The grounds were full of beautiful blooms and produce.
The grounds were full of beautiful blooms and produce.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Garden Club donation underwrites purchase, installation of new refrigeration system

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next