The Catskill Chronicle

WOODBOURNE, NY (May 15, 2011) – For the second year in a row, Kohl’s Associates came out to volunteer for a good cause.

One hundred thirty-three Kohl’s Associates from the Kohl’s Distribution Center in Wurtsboro, who, along with their families totaled over 180 volunteers, showed up on a Saturday to help SullivanArc build a vegetable garden in Woodbourne, NY.

The community garden was started a year ago when Kohl’s Associate volunteers originally fenced in the one-acre garden in a matter of a few hours.

This year, Kohl’s Associates built additional garden beds, hauling thousands of stones to create the borders. They also built the foundations for two raised beds that will allow people in wheelchairs easy access to tend to the plantings.

Kohl’s Associates pushed wheelbarrows, hauled hay, shoveled compost and prepared the soil on the sunny Saturday as part of the company’s second annual Kohl’s National Go Green volunteer event in celebration of Earth Day National Volunteer Week.

SullivanArc, based in Monticello, provides supports and services to over 850 people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

According to Susan Diamond, the Executive Director of the SullivanArc Foundation, “Kohl’s Associates did in 5 hours what would have taken us 5 weeks. We now can concentrate on getting our seeds in the ground and get the growing season off to a good start.”

In recognition of the Associates’ efforts, Kohl’s will provide $1,500 in grants to SullivanArc, which will further enhance their ability to teach children with disabilities about the joys of gardening.

For more pictures of the event, visit www.sullivanarc.org.