Help Kick Off the Gardening Season with Garden-to-Go Kits! Join us at Possum Creek MetroPark for a hands-on volunteer opportunity that helps bring fresh, homegrown food to families in our community. Together, we'll assemble seed packets and Garden-to-Go Kits, which provide families with the resources to grow their own food while improving access to fresh produce. These kits will be distributed to individuals and families, with a focus on those living in designated food deserts or experiencing food insecurity. Our goal is to assemble and later distribute 500 kits! By volunteering, you'll play a vital role in making gardening more accessible and empowering others to grow their own food.
Impact
Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production. Program support volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for all interested in learning. Volunteers support and enhance what the Horticulture and Outdoor Connections staff is able to offer to the public.
Tasks
This group will be split into two smaller groups. Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, volunteers will support and assist with the following:
- Garden-To-Go kit assembly, including:
- Measuring out bulk seed, filling and sealing empty packets, and labeling each packet with the correct fruit, vegetable, or herb variety
- Counting the number of packets that have been assembled for each variety.
- Filling bagged kits with seeds and information, and sealing each bag
Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth (ages 14-17 - See specific age requirements below). Learn more about our types of service here.
- Youth Volunteers: Youth volunteers ages 14-17 are not required to complete a background check. If you are a new youth volunteer, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to have your background check waived.
Additional Notes
- Parking & Meeting Instructions: Arrive 5- 10 minutes before your shift start time for a brief introduction and orientation to the site and the volunteer project. Click here for a map of Possum Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the parking lot near the Farm Shelter. Enter the park at 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton, OH 45417, and follow the main park drive until it dead-ends into the farm parking lot. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage.
- Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact staff lead Kaitlyn Lowry, Education Coordinator, at 937-276-7053.
- Environment & Physical Demands: This project takes place indoors. Volunteers can expect to be seated or standing for extended periods while measuring seeds with measuring spoons, labeling packets, and organizing materials. This opportunity requires attention to detail, basic math skills, and good hand-eye coordination.
- Dress: Volunteers should dress to be comfortable indoors, wear their volunteer name badge and apparel, closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves and a water bottle.
Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming opportunities with us.
