Ann Craig Howarth of Burlington, ON writes....

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The decision to hold a fundraiser came about when a few women from the First Unitarian Church gathered with a desire to help the plight of African Grandmothers. Each had heard of the Canadian momentum sweeping across Canada organizing to support the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. The project appeared to be a perfect fit for the Church’s Social Justice Committee.

It quickly came together that a garden tour was to be the means of fundraising. “Blooms for Africa” was launched at the first gathering in Feb. 2007. There was only a hint of trepidation given the time frame we had to work with as the tour was scheduled for July 28^th and 29^th of 2007. Work needed to begin immediately.

First order of business was to find gardens and very quickly we had 12 gardeners offering their gardens. The only criteria for the gardens selected were that work had to be done by the individuals and not by landscapers. We felt that individuals' labour of love would be a fit with the labour of love given by the African Grandmothers to their grandchildren.

As part of the Social Justice Committee, this event brought together not only our Church community, but also the community at large. Willing support came from Corporate and Service Club Sponsorship, individual donations, local Churches, other Grandmothers groups, community businesses and many volunteers.

A proposal made to Zonta 2 Hamilton requesting seed money, resulted in a $500.00 grant. Stirling Media & Print Group offered printing of posters in three sizes, Todays Family, Caring for your Child printed the tickets. A different drummer books, Computability, from Burlington, Mixed Media, and Bryan Prince Bookseller, Hamilton sold tickets at their respective stores. Tansley Woods United Church set up a Grandmothers Campaign information table and sold tickets to the event. The Hamilton Spectator and Burlington Post ran features in their papers. The event was posted in Church newsletters and local periodicals.

We were successful in selling over three hundred tickets, approximately $600.00 dollars was raised by selling a basket of garden supplies donated by Maureen Ellison and a garden bench from Judy Hill a local Hamilton cement artist. Donation of cards from artist Theresa Randles and half of the profit of Carolyn Lehmann’s sculpture sales and an honourarium from a presentation regarding the Grandmother Campaign were also included. Many people took the opportunity through the “Blooms for Africa” initiative to offer generous donations to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Grandmothers to Grandmother Campaign. Donations were also made on behalf of individuals’ own grandchildren, retirement gifts, etc. as a way of reaching African Grandmothers.

There was an air of enthusiasm and excitement among the visitors to all the gardens. The feedback we received was that it was important to see gardens that individuals had created themselves. There was an appreciation for the many creative ideas that could be incorporated into their own garden. The love of gardening and the willingness to share seemed to be important appreciated. The garden hosts and greeters to each garden took the opportunity to discuss the meaning behind the venture. African Grandmothers remained in focus.

The project brought much our attention, from the African Grandmothers, that there is hope and determination. The name Blooms for Africa was seen as a metaphor for hope. From our community we learned that there is generosity, commitment, empathy and creativity.

Because of the many ways of networking that were undertaken to promote the event, the name Blooms for Africa has recognition in our community and many want to have this event again next year. However this plays out next year, we are pleased to have been part of the momentum sweeping across our country helping our sisters in Africa.

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Ann Craig Howarth of Burlington, ON writes....