Grant awarded for greenhouse improvements and 'SEED' program
PUTNAM — The Putnam Area Foundation awarded a $3,500 grant to Northeast Placement Services (NEPS) to support refurbishment and expansion of its greenhouse and garden facilities, strengthening the organization’s SEED program expanding opportunities for individuals of all abilities to participate in hands-on educational and vocational experiences.
The funding will allow NEPS to refurbish and re-wrap the greenhouse originally constructed in 2016, extending its life and enabling year-round programming, and assist in the purchase of a Dosatron system, a water-powered, proportional fertilizer doser to improve irrigation and nutrient management. This equipment allows people of all abilities to participate in the plant cultivation process. The grant will also allow for the installation of additional fencing and trellises.
The SEED (Strength, Education, Empowerment = Dreams) program, which started in 2021 consists of raised vegetable beds, 2 vegetable gardens, a pumpkin patch, a sensory garden, irrigation systems, and flower gardens. The program has had great success providing participants with practical learning opportunities in horticulture, fostering skill development, independence, teamwork, and community engagement.
The improvements funded through this grant will allow NEPS to expand participation while maintaining a safe and accessible environment. Former Executive Director Timothy Kettle had big dreams for this program, and was steadfast around making this program sustainable, educational, and fruitful for all involved. Since Kettle’s retirement, Executive Director, Tammy Scott has not let her foot off the gas. “From the first seed planted until now, Tom Borner and The Putnam Area Foundation have made a lasting impact on NEPS, affording us the ability to provide another quality program where everyone sees the fruits of their labor!”
“The Putnam Area Foundation is proud to support Northeast Placement Services and the important work they do in our community,” said Thomas Borner, president of the Putnam Area Foundation. “We were an original grant sponsor in 2021 when the SEED Program started, and to see it take off and expand, reaching the number of people in our community that it has, is a testament to the service that NEPS is providing. The grant today will ensure the continuation of a program that has become an important resource.”
Ryan DeWitt, director of Day and Vocational Services at Northeast Placement Services, said: “NEPS has an incredible TEAM and with continued community support, there isn’t anything we can’t offer our participants, and there is nothing we can’t do. Thank you Tom Borner and The Putnam Area Foundation, for organizations like yours that afford organizations like ours a hand up. That’s community impact!”
The Putnam Area Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to supporting charitable organizations serving the greater Putnam area.
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