By Jean Butler and Cathy Fochtman

Garden Therapy is a community service initiative at Emerson Hospital that was created in 1982. Acton Garden Club's stewardship of the program has been ongoing, apart from the Covid Pandemic when Emerson Hospital called a hiatus to all volunteer programs.

 

Thirteen Club Members, after going through the Emerson volunteer screening process, follow a rotating schedule of visits bringing flowers and supplies to patients on the North 5 Behavioral Health Unit. Our volunteers, under the supervision of the Emerson Program Coordinator, ass

ist the patients in making flower arrangements for themselves or to give as a gift to family members.

This program thrives because of our partnership with Emerson Hospital and with Trader Joe’s Acton, our flower supplier. Emerson assists with the funding of supplies. Trader Joe’s, through their Neighborhood Shares Program, donates flowers weekly for our program throughout the school year. The Acton Garden Club provides partial funding, but without all three organizations participating in the partnership, we would not be able to financially keep this program alive. Many thanks to Emerson Hospital and Trader Joe’s Acton!

Acton Garden Club’s purpose is “to promote a greater interest in gardening and to share experiences that shall be of mutual benefit.”

Our AGC Garden Therapy’s objective is to provide opportunities for patients to break out of isolation and make connections with others.

 

Our reward is watching the joy of the patients enjoying the beauty of flowers.

If you are interested in setting up a program with your garden club, message us utilizing the Contact Us feature on our website actongardenclub.org with the Subject:

ATTENTION: Garden Therapy, or drop a line to: Acton Garden Club, PO Box 2137,
Acton MA 01720, ATTENTION: Garden Therapy.