by Geoff Fox
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be giving away plants this Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church located at 200 Douglas Street in Hancock thanks to local growers and members of church. Should there be rain, the event will be moved inside.
Organizers are asking people not to come early that day.
Wendy Weller told town officials about the giveaway, which as of this past weekend had about 2,000 plants from donations from two greenhouses and those in the congregation. There were still some plants that needed picked up, she told officials.
Weller said four other greenhouses could donate more plants this week.
“We’re not sure what we’re going to end up with, but we’ll have plenty for people who want to come,” she said.
The focus has been on reaching out to those who help families in need, such as food banks, churches, and senior centers.
There will be five master gardeners attending the event to answer questions and have information tables. Those master gardeners, Weller said, will be from Washington and Morgan counties.
Back in March, Weller approached town officials to make them aware of the plant giveaway.
Weller wanted to remind town officials about a possible traffic backup on Douglas Street and Pennsylvania Avenue during the two-hour giveaway.
She said that might be something to reach out to the police to maybe monitor those two hours.
Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. told Officer Shawn Faith to have whoever is working during that time to check on the traffic that day.
There will be parking and those attending are asked to line up and they will be given a cardboard flat to put their plants in.
“Volunteers will be available to assist in carrying flats if needed,” Weller said.
In an email, Weller later added there would be an array of vegetables, herbs, flowers, corn and bean seeds, and even potatoes.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to bless the community by serving its neighbors,” Weller said.
She added the church has also shared information about the giveaway with food banks and organizations that serve low income families in Hancock, Needmore, Warfordsburg, and Berkeley Springs.
