{"id":66782,"date":"2019-05-30T15:08:37","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T19:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/0vy.bc7.mywebsitetransfer.com\/?p=66782"},"modified":"2019-05-30T15:16:56","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T19:16:56","slug":"first-coast-ymca-receives-donations-from-florida-beverage-association-and-pepsico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portfolio.curran-connors.com\/FCYMCA\/first-coast-ymca-receives-donations-from-florida-beverage-association-and-pepsico\/","title":{"rendered":"First Coast YMCA Receives Donations from Florida Beverage Association and PepsiCo"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 May 30, 2019<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 The First Coast YMCA recently received donations of rain barrels for its community garden at the duPont Family YMCA\u2019s New American Welcome Center. The barrels, donated by the Florida Beverage Association and PepsiCo, will help the community become more involved with sustainable growing practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Florida Beverage Association and its member companies are committed to environmental sustainability and improving the communities where we live, work and play,\u201d said Liz Castro DeWitt, President of FBA, the trade association for Florida\u2019s non-alcoholic beverage industry. \u201cWe are excited to partner with the YMCA on this project that promotes community culture and environmental sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neighborhood gardens like the one at the duPont Family YMCA help immigrants who are new to the area become more familiar with their community. While many immigrants may already know how to garden, many are unable to grow their own food because of a lack of available space in their new homes or apartments. The community garden at duPont is part of the Y\u2019s \u201cSEEDifferently\u201d program, which uses gardens to grow fruits and vegetables throughout 14 different YMCA branches on the First Coast.<\/p>\n

Rain barrels are a sustainable way to water plants in the community garden. The barrels will be set up by the building near the garden to catch the rain and will be maintained by duPont YMCA staff and members. The duPont YMCA is also planning to decorate the barrels as a community project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese rain barrels are an exciting addition to the garden at the duPont YMCA,\u201d said Amber Dodge, senior program coordinator for the New American Welcome Center at the Y. \u201cThe duPont YMCA\u2019s garden is new as of earlier this year, so we are just starting out and learning as we go!\u201d<\/p>\n

SEEDifferently is used to promote healthy food choices and to create access to fresh and healthy food in Jacksonville\u2019s \u201cfood deserts.\u201d This program also donates food that has been harvested from the gardens to families throughout the First Coast community.<\/p>\n