You may see some extra cheer around Skokie thanks to ‘Flowers from the Heart’!

We’re all about partnerships at Skokie Community Foundation and this grant is a true example of how team work makes the dream work. Last spring, students from the D219 Bridges Program built accessible Vego Garden beds which were installed at The Talking Farm. Participants from The Douglas Center, assisted by The Talking Farm’s Education and Programming Coordinator Lissa Sangree-Calabrese, planted and grew flowers throughout the summer. The Douglas Center participants learned about sustainability, plant lifecycles, and honed their gardening skills.

The flowers are now in full bloom! Lissa assists the participants in harvesting the flowers and creating attractive bouquets. The bouquets are given out for free around the community, usually at hospitals and assisted living facilities.

Not only did this grant grow partnerships among the participating organizations, it also grew partnerships for its funding! Skokie Community Foundation was proud to fund this grant alongside The Education Foundation – Supporting the Students of Niles Township.

Click here to learn more about our 2024 grants.