Community Outreach

Selected by the Community Outreach Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded a total of $654 for its Bloomin’ Byways and Bloomin’ Bouquets  projects which began in 2021. Zinnias were planted for distribution to nursing homes in the raised beds constructed in 2021 by Girl Scout Troop 32624 and daffodils were planted for community beautification.

  Selected by the Community Outreach Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $250 to the 5th grade gifted class of the Dallas School District to construct a Butterfly Café on Dallas School District property. The Café includes a pollinator garden with native plants to attract Monarch butterflies.

Selected by the Community Improvement Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $200 to Girl Scout Troop 32624 for the purchase of lumber to construct raised beds for the Food Pantry Veggie and Flower Garden located on the Lehman Township Municipal grounds.

 Selected by the Community Improvement Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $250 to the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society to construct a double fence to keep deer out of its pollinator garden.  All plants are natives to include Black Eyed Susans, Asters, Monarda, Thin Leaf Coneflower, and Butterfly Weed 

  Selected by the Community Improvement Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $250 to Jamie Mines to advance his Eagle Scout Project. Jamie is a Life Scout in Troop 155. He conducted his Eagle Scout Project at Francis Slocum Park by completing the restoration of the butterfly garden and replacing its sign there.

Pictured from left to right: Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman, Kate Hayes, Bloomer President, Jamie Mines, Eagle Scout Candidate:

  Selected by the Community Improvement Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $240 to Wilkes-Barré Preservation Society to restore the colonial kitchen herb garden at the Zebulon Butler House, considered the oldest home in Wilkes Barre. Located on River Street in the city, the house has stood since 1773.  Click here for pictures of the installation.  

Pictured from left to right: Kate Hayes, Bloomer President; Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman; member of the Preservation Society; Tony Brooks, Director, Wilkes-Barré Preservation Society

In 2019, selected by the Community Improvement Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $150 to Mattie Lewis a member of Girl Scout Troop 34958 for her Gold Star Project to plant perennials around an historical marker for Florence Foster Jenkins located at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes Barre. Mattie’s goal was to spark interest in local history, educate the community and display the legacy that Florence Foster Jenkins left behind through her support of the arts.

In that same year, the club award of $250 to Casey Weaver, a member of Boy Scout Troop 241, for his Eagle Scout project to plant 9 peach trees at the Food Pantry Veggie Garden located on the Lehman Township Municipal grounds.

  Selected by the Community Grants Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $250 to Vladimir Gingo to advance his Eagle Scout Project. Vladimir, of Shavertown, is a Life Scout in Troop 281 in Dallas. He conducted his Eagle Scout Project at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, 93 Zerby Avenue, Edwardsville, by filling voids on the driveway, repairing parish lawn, incorporating a drain for rainwater, and aggressively trimming and saving a large 50-year cherry tree.

Pictured from left to right: Carol Sorber, Bloomer President; Vladimir Gingo, Eagle Scout; Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman

  Selected by the Community Grants Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $250 to Brady Newman to advance his Eagle Scout Project. Brady, of Shavertown, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 241 in Lehman. He has volunteered at the Food Pantry Garden in Lehman Township for some time and understood the need for keeping the garden free from pests. His plan to purchase, reinforce, and install rabbit fencing surrounding the garden area has been completed with great success in protecting garden produce.

Additionally in 2018, the club awarded $250 to Misericordia University’s Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program for a pilot program on Chase Road that grew organic produce to be delivered to the working poor of Wyoming Valley.

Pictured from left to right:

Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman; Brady Newman, Eagle Scout; Carol Sorber, Bloomer President

  Selected by the Community Grants Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $300 to Robbie Lauer to advance his Eagle Scout Project. Robbie, of Shavertown, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 146 from Jackson Township. Robbie’s chosen Eagle Scout Project was completed at the Kingston Township Magisterial Building in Trucksville where he sought to improve, replant, and beautify the entrance to the office. A major part of this project was to lay a concrete base so that an existing Veteran’s Memorial stone could be moved to a more prominent position in front of the building.

Pictured from left to right: Carol Sorber, Bloomer President; Robbie Lauer, Eagle Scout; and Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman

  Selected by the Community Grants Committee, the Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club awarded $200 to John Macey to advance his Eagle Scout Project. John is a member of Boy Scout Troop 281 in Dallas. His creative work at the Dallas School District bus pad will provide much need benches, planters, and trash barrels for student convenience.  

Pictured from left to right: Carol Sorber, Bloomer President; John Macey, Eagle Scout; Joanne Bittner, Grant Committee Chairwoman