Every January nearly years, the Havana Garden Club has hosted a luncheon to thank the employees, elected officials and others in Havana who have helped the club during the past year. Each member is asked to bring a favorite side dish or dessert recipe and the officers provide ham and chicken. The result is an assortment of delicious and filling fare for the fortunate guests. For those guests unable to attend, the club will fill take-out boxes for delivery.
The luncheon is held at the Hazel Baker Community Center which is named for one of the club’s former presidents. The club is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to beautify the Havana area and provide education about gardening and horticulture.
The club is open to all men and women with an interest in gardening and natural beauty. Several public gardens in Havana are maintained by the club.
Edna Hall Whitehead, club president, is a believer in community outreach and service. Under her leadership, the club is working with a group of kids at the Havana Magnet School. This club, called Sprouts Academy, gives a group of middle school students hands-on experience working with plants and gardening. The students have eaten some of their own home grown produce which was a first time for most of them.
The club is also working on a new beautification project in the butterfly garden next to the library which will be unveiled later this spring. In addition, they will be adding colorful flowers to the town pots as the weather warms. The Havana Garden Club is committed to continuing its long history of community service and beautification.
Diane Croley – Gadsden County News Service