GSCU’s support helps make CHP’s Plantapalooza a success

GRAFTON _ A gorgeous day, high spirits and hundreds of people helped begin the growing season at the Community Harvest Project’s (CHP) annual Plantapalooza event, which took place on Saturday, May 18, 2013. This community-spirited event is held each May at the Brigham Hill Community Farm on Wheeler Road, North Grafton.

 Grafton Suburban Credit Union (GSCU) has been a longstanding supporter of the event, and according to CHP’s Executive Director Kristin Bafaro, their partnership has been instrumental in assuring a successful annual event.

 GSCU staff members managed all of the financial transactions for the May 18th event, which ran from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and included a plant sale fundraiser, annual open house, garden-themed raffle prize drawings throughout the day, food offerings, and a cookie walk.

 “GSCU is an instrumental partner to our Plantapalooza event. Numerous GSCU employees served many hours before, during and after the event to manage the financial component of the event. They volunteered as cashiers, bookkeepers, and managers of the entire process. We absolutely couldn’t have done it without them, and we’re so grateful for this partnership,” Bafaro said.

 Proceeds from this event, as with all CHP events, help bring thousands of volunteers together to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, which are then donated for hunger relief in Worcester County. Over 250,000 lbs. of fresh produce were donated in 2013 and this year, it is anticipated that the amount will substantially increase to over 300,000 lbs. of produce.

  “GSCU recognizes the important work community based non-profit organizations do and we are proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Community Harvest Project.  Our employees always look forward to Plantapalooza, and we genuinely enjoy being a part of something that provides such a valuable service to those in need,” said Kelly Benoit, Assistant Vice President of Retail Services, GSCU. “We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s event and we look forward to continuing to volunteer our time with CHP throughout the summer.”

 Grafton Suburban is a $125 million credit union serving 11,000 members in Worcester and Middlesex Counties. The financial institution contributes the time and resources of its staff, and approximately $40,000.00 annually to help strengthen nonprofit organizations within the Grafton area community. For more information, visit www.graftonsuburban.com.