CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - They are called Prosperity Gardens for a reason - they do more than just provide local produce to Champaign Urbana.
Prosperity Gardens, along with C-U At Home, team up with C-U At Work, a program where those experiencing homeless can work at the gardens and help get their lives back on track.
Nicole Musumeci, Prosperity Gardens program coordinator, said the program is a "workforce development program" in which they hire individuals from C-U at Home, and they get work experience here on the farms.”
Jester Jones is a Kankakee native who moved to Champaign-Urbana. C-U at Home took him in, and within a year, he was able to find a home and get a car, all thanks to his work on the gardens.
"It's about being around the right people," Jones told WAND News.
C-U At Home members are out on the gardens throughout the week, helping with over 20 different varieties of produce.
“Every morning you're going to see us buzzing around here, watering (and) weeding.” Musumeci said.
The produce goes to local markets or organizations that combat food insecurity, but Jones said the gardens go beyondjust providing food for the community.
“You had to have a desire to get your life back under control. A lot of people have lost that desire, and that's where we are here at prosperity gardens, We talk to the people and help them with their housing, and different things like that and motivate them," Jones said regarding the potential working for the gardens brings.
Musumeci said most individuals come into the gardens with a goal in place. Prosperity Gardens just helps the dream come true.
"They come here with set goals for themselves goals for employment goals for housing goals for self improvement, and I really look at the garden is just a vehicle for those people to develop them, that within themselves," she said.
For anyone interested in participating in the gardens, visit their website.
For anyone involved with C-U At Home that would like to participate, click here.
