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Zion's Efforts in the Groveland Area

Friday, February 3, 2012

Zion Lutheran Church on Main Ave. in Groveland is an active church. At the annual meeting in January five projects 2011 were reviewed. These included preparing food boxes for needy families, a fund raising dinner for Faith Neighborhood center, gifts for the Groveland Senior Center Christmas Party, a garden at Clermont Heath and Rehabilitation Center, and continuing the Groveland Community Garden at South Park. Volunteers donated more than 2,000 hours of their time for these activities. The volunteers for the first three projects were mainly from Zion Lutheran Church, but the last two projects involved many members of the Trilogy Wildflowers Garden Club, and volunteers from the city of Groveland including the mayor and council members. South Park, now called the David Blanks Park was started in 2010, and expanded in 2011. Key to the success of the two year old garden is the Groveland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and its manager, Janet Shira, and all members of the CRA.

The funds for these activities came mainly from the Lake-Sumter Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping nearly 3 million members achieve financial security and give back to their congregations and communities. In 2011 they funded $2500 of the $3191 administered by Zion on these five projects with the he remainder funded by members of Zion Lutheran Church. In addition to the activities by Zion Lutheran Church members, the CRA worked with other groups to make this year's community garden a success. More information about the other garden activities can be found under "NEWS" at www.downtowngroveland.com.