Bamberg garden club get $5K disaster grant after tornado

The fund accepts monetary contributions to assist local and state clubs with garden-related restorations. These restorations must be due to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, ice storms and wildfires.

According to club President Cathy Griffin, club member Lisa B. Stokes played a crucial role in the grant process.

Griffin stated, “After the tornado in Bamberg in January destroyed many of the club’s award-winning gardening projects, Lisa took the initiative to look for funding to help restore these projects.”

Bamberg Mayor Nancy Foster and immediate past president of the garden club remarked that most members were unaware of the availability of such funds.

She said, “Applying for the grant was not easy, but with input from a few members, Lisa was able to complete the process.”

The Dirt Dabblers Garden Club members were surprised to see their gardening efforts at Simmons Park practically destroyed within three minutes by the Jan. 9 tornado.

Many club members had dedicated their time to planting various species of plants at Simmons Park, while others provided water to keep them alive during the hot summer months. This was an ongoing project the club had hoped to expand in the future.

Foster mentioned that Diane Morrell chairs the Historic Simmons Cemetery project. The cemetery had one very old, large tree uprooted by the tornado and several other oak trees were leaning and partially uprooted.

Kay Van Cantfort with Southerlee Farms of White Pond, a guest speaker at the garden club’s June meeting, proposed repurposing the huge and exposed root still partially in the ground by growing vines and native plants on and around it. Some of the grant funds will be allocated for this project.

Club secretary Joyce Searson credited Lisa Stokes for her efforts.

“In the 10 years I have been in the club, the idea of applying for a grant never crossed my mind. No one ever mentioned it. This has opened the door for many possibilities in the future.”

Stokes submitted the grant application in March and received final approval at the end of May. The DDGC received the check on June 4, 2024.

Based on the guidelines of the grant, the funds are designated for the restoration of trees, plants, and the purchase of plant materials. The ongoing project at Simmons Cemetery and Park is important to the DDGC, with club member Daniela McMillan showing great dedication to the cause. She hopes to secure donations for a water source to support the plants.

The funds will also be used to plant palmetto trees at city entrance signs and to improve other gardening areas in the city of Bamberg that were affected by the tornado.

The Natural Disaster USA Fund is supported solely by the generous donations of dedicated garden club members and has extended a helping hand by awarding grants to many fellow garden clubs across the country.