The Garden Club of Denver’s New Partnership with Civic Center Conservancy

Garden Program Serves Unhoused and Food Insecure

October 23, 2024

By: Kathleen Thomas

The Garden Club of Denver (GCD) launched a volunteer and financial partnership with the Civic Center Conservancy (CCC) in February, 2024. GCD presented the first of two $3,500 checks, as well as committed club volunteers to work with CCC.  GCD supporting CCC’s use of public gardens to educate, inspire, and improve the lives of the people of Denver reflects their shared commitment to the community. The CCC’s ability to leverage its 25,000 square feet of garden beds to address the city’s biggest challenges – support for the unhoused and those suffering from food insecurity -- aligns perfectly with the Garden Club of Denver's and the Garden Club of America's (GCA) mission. 

As the chief organization behind Civic Center Park's operations, the CCC plays a pivotal role in its management and development. The CCC partners with several organizations to achieve its many goals, and the financial and volunteer commitment from the Garden Club of Denver (GCD) will enhance these partnerships. Specifically, the donation will augment the collaborations with Bayaud Enterprises for the workforce program (known as WORKS) and Grow Local Colorado for the vegetable garden initiative.

Through WORKS, the CCC and Bayaud Enterprises hire the unhoused to keep the park clean, attractive, and active. WORKS serves as a pipeline to permanent employment and housing opportunities. Meanwhile, the park is maintained and enjoyed by the community. WORKS is in its fourth summer, hoping to improve upon an impressive 40% success rate in finding permanent employment for its unhoused maintenance workers.

In partnership with Grow Local Colorado, the vegetable garden project yields about 2,500 pounds of vegetables annually, benefiting thousands of people in Denver who are suffering from food insecurity. The Garden Club of Denver will participate in at least two work days planting the vegetable garden in the spring, harvesting in the Fall, and delivering produce to the Food Bank of the Rockies.