Major Grant allows ECHO to facilitate multiple garden projects around SWFL

Fort Myers, Fla., December 3, 2009—ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) has been awarded a grant of $20,000 to fund a Community Gardening Intern to work with the local community. Karyn Traum began her internship at ECHO in November learning tropical agriculture, while bringing to ECHO her valuable skills obtained while with University of Illinois Extension community garden projects. This grant will greatly increase ECHO’s capacity to work with the local community organizations.

 “As the economy continues to suffer, non-profits and schools are considering community and co-op gardening as a way to provide sustainable ways to supplement their food pantries and school lunch programs”, states Mary Moore, Director of Development for ECHO. “Thanks to the support of the SWFL Community Foundation, we can now provide planning and consulting to those organizations interested in producing food in this community.” 

ECHO plans to hold its second “Community Garden Training Day” on their North Fort Myers campus sometime the first quarter of 2010.  In September, this successful program attracted individuals from 16 organizations across the state, eager to learn the techniques and tools ECHO shares with the world. 

For information on how ECHO can potentially assist your organization with consulting on your project, please download the “Community Gardening Application for Assistance” form at http://www.echonet.org/content/CommunityGardens or contact Mary Moore, at mmoore@echonet.org.

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable solutions to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative ideas, and networking.  By networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries, ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL.

###