The Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Foundation recognizes the contributions of nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve. Each month, we’ll honor one of those organizations as our Nonprofit of the Month.

The Boys and Girls Club of Freeport and Stephenson County, Illinois, is literally growing. In 2019, kids age 6 to 14 at the Club started gardening: planting, watering, and taking care of a 500-square-foot garden plot. In the winter months, they learn about environmental topics and plan for their next growing season.

It’s been a successful program, even through the pandemic, and with support of a local construction union, the Club is doing more for older kids. They’re using their new gardening skills to help beautify a city street in Freeport, not far from where they have been growing plants already, and they’re also going to offer lawn care services to low-income households.

The goal is to develop work skills doing something that helps make their community better… and greener.

The Boys and Girls Club of Freeport and Stephenson County is supported by Hastings Mutual and Dimond Bros.

For more on the Boys and Girls Club of Freeport and Stephenson County program, visit the website.