The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has awarded a grant to the YMCA of Greensboro Achievers, through the Foundation's Teen Grantmaking Council. The $1,174 grant will fund the Achievers' Gardening Tower Project, which focuses on helping solve the issue of food insecurity in the area.
The YMCA Achievers Program focuses on 8th-12th graders and utilizes a strategic, data-driven approach designed to develop individual talents and leadership skills. The goal of the program is to get teens ready for life beyond high school, prepare for college and begin exploring career possibilities.
"We're honored to have received this grant from The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. This project is beneficial to our community as well as to our Achievers participants," said Portia Parris, Program Director, YMCA of Greensboro Achievers. "The project provides these teens with exposure to gardening, entrepreneurship and food literacy, as well as STEM activities like seed germination and PH testing."
Aeroponics enables the growing of plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil. Compared to traditional gardening, aeroponic gardening increases yields, grows plants faster and uses less water. The YMCA of Greensboro Achievers originally began growing fresh produce using an aeroponic gardening tower as part of a STEM Cohort in 2019. The use of aeroponics and the tower garden will create year-round opportunity for fresh produce distribution to the community.
To learn more about the YMCA of Greensboro and the Achievers program, visit ymcagreensboro.org.