West Chester, PA (from West Chester Daily Local News Article) 

More than 100 well-wishers and neighbors met at 111 Poplar St. to celebrate the grand opening of the community Garden of Grace.

Varday, and his wife, DeLea Jacobs, are enjoying gardening in the neighborhood.

Joe Fratinardo, volunteer and board vice president at the West Chester Food Cupboard, is pleased that the cupboard is partnering with the growers.  “We couldn’t be happier to be providing healthy food — not just the basics — to families that need it,” he said.

Until May 22, there was nothing but an empty lot where the garden now sits.

The two gardeners and neighbors, Varday and DeLea Jacobs cut the ribbon on Saturday.

Saturday’s Garden of Grace Celebration and unveiling was attended by about 100 Poplar Street neighbors.  Many fruits and vegetables are now growing in the spacious garden beds, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, collards, Brussels sprouts, radishes, spinach, eggplant, watermelons and strawberries.

Varday Jacobs talked about eating locally grown veggies.  “You don’t know where it’s coming from,” he said, about supermarket shopping.  But from a local garden, “you know who grew it,” he said.

Margaret Hudgings of the West Chester Green Team enjoys seeing community members taking care of each other.  “It’s much better to have a garden next to you than an unkempt field,” Hudgings said.

Habitat for Humanity donated what was a vacant neighborhood field. The borough of West Chester required the nonprofit to pay $500 to make a zoning change to an agricultural designation. Hudgings noted that the City of Coatesville gifts open lots to gardeners.

Borough Manager Sean Metrick said that he is a “big fan” of gardens.  “Council wants to cure that,” the borough manager said about changing the rules to better allow for community gardens.

Members of the Marilyn Grace Fitzgerald Family spoke at the grand opening. The garden was named after Fitzgerald.

Pastor Simeon Strauser of Christ’s Chapel of Parkesburg, led the group prayer, giving thanks to God for His provisions and abundance of grace and mercy.   “Let this day be only a beginning,” Strauser said.

Dayna’s iCare Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit that provides clothing, food and shelter assistance for underprivileged children. Most of the giving takes place in The West Chester Area. Once per year, the group works nationally. Last year they helped disaster victims in Puerto Rico.

For more information, go to www.daynasicarefoundation.org or write info@daynasicarefoundation.org.