If you haven’t heard, Ad Club is partnering to host a kids gardening event on behalf of Ozarks Harvesting Hope. We’ll need your help to make it a great day for area kids and their families.

Volunteer areas include:
– Volunteer the day of the event to help with welcome/prize tents and other activities.
– Help with publicizing the event (we have several things in the works, but can always use more marketing assistance!).
– Find kid gardening related coupons/offers to be given away that day.
– We need donations of plastic cups for seed planting (if you have restaurant clients, could you ask for 25-50 per client, we’re hoping to have 300-500 kids visit).

Here’s more information about the event:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2008

Young Sprouts in the Garden to Highlight
Fun and Benefits of Gardening for Kids

Kids and their families are invited to “Young Sprouts in the Garden,” Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Nathanael Greene Park, 2400 S. Scenic in Springfield. Admission is free.

Master Gardeners of Greene County, Ozarks Harvesting Hope and Springfield Greene-County Parks and Recreation have partnered for this community educational event to promote and encourage an interest in gardening for children and teens, and to also foster an appreciation and respect for how we relate to plants and our environment. Interactive exhibits and booths will offer a chance to learn about or participate in activities such as planting a seed, sun safety, vegetable and fruit nutrition, horticulture careers, weather, trees, recycling and more.

Participants include: Ozarks Harvesting Hope, Master Gardeners of Greene County, Rutledge-Wilson Farm Community Park, National Weather Service, Campbell’s Farm, Discovery Center, Show Me Yards & Neighborhoods, Springfield Conservation Nature Center, St. John’s Clinic – Pediatrics – Smith Glynn Callaway, Wickman’s Garden Village and Ryan Lawn & Tree.

Tours of the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens will be available. While supplies last, children will receive an Ozarks Harvesting Hope gardening apron for visiting the participating exhibits.

Ozarks Harvesting Hope, a part of the national Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign, is a local public service project of the Springfield Ad Club and Master Gardeners of Greene County.

For more information, call the University of Missouri Extension (Master Gardener) office at 417-862-9284 or visit www.ozarksharvestinghope.com.