Giving Gardens is a community service project sponsored by The Sedona Women to assist those in need within our community . . . retired seniors, singles, and young families who struggle to afford the basic necessity of groceries. Its fundamental vision is to heighten the awareness of need and to increase food donations to the Sedona Community Food Bank (SCFB), but as the program expands we hope to reach out to other organizations such as Meals on Wheels and St. Vincent de Paul.

A long-range goal of the project is to establish and support the development of community gardens to benefit not only those in need but also the gardeners and community as a whole. Local gardeners and fruit tree owners are encouraged to share their personal harvest at whatever level is suitable to them, and volunteers to help harvest local fruit trees and work in the community garden are needed.

Bashas, Safeway and Webers IGA have partnered with The Sedona Women to assist us in the Giving Gardens project by making donation more convenient. In addition to their customary practice of contributing expired goods, they are permitting collection receptacles and occasional coin jars within their stores. To promote the effort, each fourth Friday of the month and throughout that weekend “Food Bank Friday” signs will be placed next to the Giving Gardens food donation receptacles to advise customers of special needs of the SCFB.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact the Giving Gardens Chairperson, Catherine Cote, at 204-0789 or catherine@cbsedona.com.   

Sedona Winds Assisted Living/Kachina Point Health Care and Rehab Center

In 2008 and 2009, The Sedona Women had the privilege to create and host nine special events at Sedona Winds - Assisted Living and Kachina Point Health Care.

These included: two gala New Years Eve parties, complete with music, favors and, of course, champagne!; a fabulous "Hats and High Tea" party; two concerts with International singing star Simone Awhina; a Crafts Day; a "Fur and Feathers Fashion Show" (yes, the doggies had more haute couture than we did!); and two Mothers Day parties featuring the fabulous Santa Cruz River Band from Tucson.

We received many letters from family members thanking us for creating such special times for their loved ones. But the gift was ours - we fell in love with all the residents and as usual, had a terrifically fun time with each other putting the events together. That's the magic of our projects - finding and filling a community need, and creating even stronger relationships with each other!

Water Wise

The Sedona Women took on the project of Water Wise several years ago to raise awareness and move residents and businesses to a much higher level of action to protect this most valuable resource.  Since that time and due to the efforts of The Sedona Women and many others this program has grown beyond our community.  Check out this article in the Red Rock News for more information:  "Napolitano adopts Sedona event"