Westminster Presbyterian Garden
Westminster Presbyterian Church has partnered with the International Rescue Committee to open New Roots Garden a the church, 4515 S. 14th St. It costs an estimated $65 to purchase supplies to build one box. Checks should be made payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Put “Planter Box” in the subject line and mail to the church:
Westminster Presbyterian Church
4515 S. 14th St.
Abilene, TX 79605

New Roots Farms
The following is from the International Rescue Committee’s website. Click here to learn more. 
“The International Rescue Committee’s New Roots program helps refugees become food secure and contribute to their new homes and communities. Since 2008, New Roots has helped new Americans to navigate their food resources, facilitated low-income families to enter urban agriculture, developed local food systems and community green space infrastructure, and provided a platform for youth and adults to build job and life skills.”

By Loretta Fulton

“We welcome you to this place and also to America.”

With those words, Rev. Sara Core, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, welcomed refugees and other guests to the grand opening of the church’s New Roots Garden on Saturday, May 2.

The garden, which consists of 12 planter boxes to start with, is a project of Westminster and the International Rescue Committee, which established an office in Abilene in the fall of 2003. New Roots Farms is a program within the IRC that helps refugees new to this country become food secure. 

Guests hold hands and offer prayers in English and Swahili for a new garden at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Photos by Loretta Fulton

Core noted that at one time Westminster Presbyterian, which is set back from South 14th Street with a lot of empty land in front, had a large garden. Current members are building on that legacy with the planter boxes for refugee families. Her remarks were translated into Swahili, the native language of many of the refugees in Abilene. 

Arina Gray, resettlement manager for the Abilene office of the IRC, added her own welcome and commented on the significance of the garden. She recalled a quote that she had read.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,” she said.

More planter boxes will be added as sponsors become available. It costs about $65 per box to purchase supplies. Westminster will supply water for the boxes, and the IRC will provide seeds and plants. Among other acknowledgements, Core thanked Willow Creek Gardens for providing soil for the boxes at no extra cost beyond what the store paid. 

The grand opening turned out to be a workday for some of the refugees as they planted seeds for the first time in their family’s planter box or added to one they had already started. But before the work began, Core asked everyone to form a circle around the boxes and to offer prayers in English and Swahili. Following the prayers, Core and Gray snipped a bright green ribbon held in front of the boxes.

“We declare this garden officially open,” Core said.

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene