REC YouthGROW Hosts Community Forge Program In Worcester

WORCESTER, MA — The Regional Environmental Council's YouthGROW Program is collaborating with a volunteer blacksmith from Guns2Gardens and the Injury Prevention Department at UMass Memorial to host a mobile forge on site in the organization's parking lot.

This will involve doing a live demonstration of guns being transformed into garden tools. The guns used in this process are provided through the Gun Buyback program, which will be next weekend.

"We are hoping this event will help draw attention to the upcoming buyback and encourage folks to consider turning in their weapons," according to a REC YouthGROW statement.

The event will be hosted at the REC Parking lot Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon at the REC Parking Lot, 42 Lagrange Street Rear, which is most easily found by entering via the 108 Beacon Street Parking lot.

There will be hot drinks and snacks available and there will be an opportunity for participants to help with the reforging process with supervision and safety equipment provided as well as to see a display of garden tools made from reforged guns that were donated to the YouthGROW program this spring.

YouthGROW is a youth leadership and farming program that employs 40 young people maintaining three urban farm sites in Worcester.