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War Garden Project to Build First Garden for Wounded Warriors on Fort Campbell

Home Depot and Campbell Crossing provides funding and land for a Community Garden

War Garden ProjectFort Campbell, KY – Victory Gardens, also known as War Gardens, were planted during World War I and World War II to help with the decreasing food supply. The Gardens were planted in backyards, alleys and vacant ots to help serve the need for food production and also provide a sense of pride for those family members who stayed at home.

The Screaming Eagle Foundation, in support of the War Garden Project, received a $10,500 grant from the Home Depot Foundation to implement a community garden and greenhouse that will be made available to the military community. The War Garden Project (WPG) is a project that brings gardening to military communities.

It will provide therapy to wounded warriors through the Warriors Transition Battalion, which in turn can refer soldiers to Occupational Therapists, Behavior Health and the Enhanced Warrior Fitness programs. Soldiers working in the garden will learn how to decrease stress, control anger and encourage socialization through the use gardening skills and techniques.

The War Garden will also be home to REROOT, a horticultural therapy program that uses live plants and gardening activities to improve a soldier’s mental, physical and spiritual aspects of life. The REROOT program is designed to help soldiers improve their abilities to do tasks, and help cope with the changes that have occurred sometimes unexpectedly, in their lives. Individual plots will be made available for use starting in 2013.

“We hope that the War Garden Projet will provide a garden environment to promote healing and rehabilitation for our Wounded Warriors,” said Dana Chango, Director, War Garden Project. “This garden will also help improve the quality of life for our soldiers and families through hands on experiences.”

This Veteran’s Day weekend, November 9th and 10th, the final days of The Home Depot’s Celebration of Service, 100 Team Depot volunteers from eight stores will participate in building and prepping the garden, and building a shed. A Greenhouse will also be constructed on site to allow for year round gardening. The build will start at 8:00am Friday and Saturday.

An official groundbreaking will take place at 10:30am Saturday, November 10th at 2049 Indiana Avenue Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Through Team Depot, this associate-led volunteer program, The Home Depot Foundation has provided opportunities for their associates and suppliers to contribute the home improvement know-how to create meaningful impact in communities.

During the 2nd annual Celebration of Service campaign that runs from September 11th to Veterans Day, The Home Depot associates are completing projects to transform the homes and lives of veterans across the country. During these tow months, their associates will complete more than 350 service projects to benefit veterans and their families.

This War Garden Project is a program supported by the Screaming Eagle Foundation and site for the garden has been provided by Campbell Crossing and Lend Lease. The first Garden as a part of the War Garden Project will be located behind the Werner Park Community Center on Fort Campbell, KY.

Information about The Home Depot Foundation can be found at www.homedepotfoundation.com

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