Hospital Auxiliary and Boy Scout Troop 152 help build vegetable gardens for Mount Alverno

WARWICK —Celia Rutkowski, a resident of Mount Alverno Center Adult Home and Assisted Living Program, knows a lot about farming and lately, her advice and expertise are much in demand. Rutkowski, a native of Pine Island, comes from a long line of good farmers, and she and other residents at Mount Alverno Center now have an opportunity to share their expertise while enjoying vegetable gardening as a hobby. Thanks to the St. Anthony Community Hospital Auxiliary and members of Chester Boy Scout Troop 152, the residents of Mount Alverno are now able to enjoy fresh produce and even home made sauce from tomatoes raised in their own vegetable gardens. A new gazebo, also planned for the garden area, will soon offer residents a pleasant spot to relax during each growing season while watching the progress of their planting. On Aug. 30, Terry Gavan, president of the St. Anthony Community Hospital Auxiliary, presented her organization’s check for $23,000 to Leah Cerkvenik, executive vice president/administrator of St. Anthony Community Hospital. A small portion of the proceeds was allocated to purchase supplies for the building of several raised bed vegetable gardens at Mount Alverno Center. The raised gardens are more easily accessible to those residents who use walkers. This past spring, Freddy Salamone, a member of Boy Scout Troop 152, selected construction of the vegetable gardens as his Eagle Scout project. With materials purchased by the hospital auxiliary and help from his father, Assistant Scoutmaster Fred Salamone, along with Scoutmaster Jim Goodrich, Assistant Scoutmaster Phil Lang and Eagle Scout Brian Goodrich, the gardens were completed just in time for planting. “Each year,” said Gavan, who served as event chair for the auxiliary’s June party, “our members donate hundreds of hours and spend several months planning for what is our major fund-raiser. The goals they set are achieved through the generosity of community sponsors, donors and all those who purchase tickets. We are thrilled that our June Party was a success and that some of the proceeds could be used to help the Boy Scouts build these beautiful vegetable gardens at Mount Alverno Center.”