The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County,(CAASTLC) is pleased to announce that it held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newly constructed MEAAA West County Senior Center Community Garden on 14535 Manchester Rd. on site 9:30a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.

Mary Schafer, Executive Director of Mid-East Area Agency on Aging, (MEAAA) says the agency continues to be hit with budget cuts. She looks to the Community Garden Program to potentially help supplement some of the cost in their kitchens, as they continue to provide meals for home bound seniors, and for those engaged in onsite programming.

County Executive, Charlie Dooley who has been a longtime supporter of the efforts of the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County offered a few remarks regarding the Community Garden Project and how great an endeavor CAASTLC has under taken in the St. Louis County Community. He congratulated the seniors group at MEAAA for their efforts and reaffirmed that in deed efforts such as this have a deeper effect in off-setting food security in the county and throughout the region. The County Executive, along with Merline Anderson, Executive Director of CAASTLC assisted with the ribbon-cutting along with several representatives who were present.

Among those in attendance were Debbie Cochran, Area Director St. Charles Health Care Issues Advisor for Todd Akin, 2nd District, MO., Sue Allen, State Representative, 92nd District, Jeanne Kirkton, State Representative, District 91, Bert Atkins, State Representative, District 75, Dr. Kendall Brune, CEO Future Focus Community, Ashley Bement, Marketing Director, St. Louis Composting, Dave Knisley, Pro Sales Manager, Home Depot, Donna Masters, Pro Desk Sales Associate and Dave Mooy, Pro Desk Manager, Bridgeton Home Depot Store.

The West County Senior Center was challenged with very little land and tough terrain. CAASTLC Garden Organizers, Teresita Hampton and James Harrison were able to install a raised bed garden so everyone, even those in wheelchairs could participate. The seniors have even enrolled in a program; Sensational Senior’s Gardens and has a friendly competition with the other MEAAA Garden site-Ochs Senior Center in University City.

CAASTLC Executive Director, Merline Anderson says she is very pleased at the outcome of the efforts of Program Administrator Georgie Donahue and staff who have worked diligently to pull this effort together. Anderson says she is looking forward to the residual affect these community collaborative will have on St. Louis County.

In the state of Missouri food insecurity is a very serious concern for seniors; Feeding America recently reported 30 percent of senior households indicated that they have had to choose between food and medical care and 35 percent had to choose between food and paying for heat/utilities. Community Gardening helps to alleviate food insecurity as it provides a source for nutritious  food and an opportunity  for older people to learn new skills, become actively involved in the community and feel more self sufficient.

Among those contributing to the success of the Community Garden project we would like to thank the following; O’Hara Landscaping and Horticultural Services, Huerta Landscaping, Home Nursery of O’Fallon, MO, St. Louis Composting, Hummert International, Home Depot and Cordia Plumbing.