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Giving Tuesday: Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden

Sun Journal - 11/1/2020

Nov. 1--Editor's note: The Sun Journal has partnered with the Nonprofit Council from the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce as part of the Giving Tuesday initiative. We will be featuring local nonprofits. This year, giving Tuesday will be Dec. 1.

Giving Tuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a movement to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

Name of Nonprofit: Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden

Nonprofit's mission: Assist homeless and disabled veterans, provide a transition program for active duty transitioning into farming and provide a youth farmers market for local underserved youth

Director: Lovay Wallace-Singleton

Board members: Anthony Harrison, President; Wallace Harper, Vice President; Shakinna Rodgers, Treasurer, Reeshema Walker, Secretary, Natricia Collins, Member, Cohen Rodgers, Member.

Best contact information: lovayw@gmail.com

How how your the Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden and those you serve been impacted by COVID-19?:

Like many non-profit organization Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden has been impacted by the COVID-19 virus. One thing that we did look at automatically is how to make lemonade out of lemons. --Our Youth Farmers Market Training went virtual almost overnight. We have an awesome Program Coordinator who was able to take the lesson plan and convert it to an interactive program that kept the teenagers from the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center engaged and productive. --Our volunteer workforce from the Marine Corp Single Marines and Sailors program for the garden was shutdown, until we were able to find the funding for the protective equipment, hand sanitizer and signage to educate participants of COVID dangers. --The Agricultural Veterans training program funded through the USDA/NIFA program, which was in it's second year, required that we move from in-person classes to Zoom and video farm tours. Our partnership with the University of Mount Olive and NCSU Farm School was able to adapt and overcome the challenges while expanding our coverage to South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. --At the same time, we decided to relocate a major portion of the Veterans Organic Garden out of the flood area at the Stanley White Recreation Center and to a new location at 1235 Pollock St. We plan to reopen in the Spring of 2021 with greater visibility and of course social distancing. During this time frame we have been able to donate over 2200 pounds of produce to the larger community using churches, food banks and organizations as a pathway to assist those in need.

How does Giving Tuesday benefit the Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden?:

Giving Tuesday allows Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden to network with other non-profits, provide outreach to veterans and others in need, and obtain new volunteers from the surrounding community. I love that Giving Tuesday's goal is "a day that encourages people to do good"! Because that is at the core of all of the non-profits that participate in this global movement. Most of us give of our time, resources and funding because it is an inherent trait in the human psyche. VEBCOG has chosen veterans and agriculture because of the passion of its founder. Yet we have found that through collaboration with many of the local, state, federal and civic organizations our outreach and impact has expanded. But it is not all work, we have been able to celebrate the achievements that we have completed in our upcoming 8 years of existence. Most of all we celebrate the kindness, generosity and participation that has been shown to our organization. 2020 has been a challenging year, yet in many instances it has allowed us to look at our society and move ourselves forward in whatever small or large way that we can. The idea that we are paying forward, easing a pain or making someone smile is behind every act of kindness on Giving Tuesday and beyond.

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