The Sierra Club - Lancaster Group awarded its Green Project grants to eight more Lancaster County organizations, each of which had showed a need for support of a venture that promotes sustainability, expands environmental awareness, and improves green infrastructure. With this latest round of awards of up to $500, a total of 71 Lancaster County organizations have received green grants from the club over the past seven years.

Organizations receiving the grants, along with their projects, include Gnome Countryside, for establishing a Sustainability Summit in September for leaders from local college environmental clubs, businesses, and the community; Hamilton Park United Church of Christ, launching a church group, called Creation Care Kids, whose overall goal is to teach families, friends, and neighbors the value of understanding and preserving the Earth; and Historic Poole Forge, rebuilding and renovating raised beds and setting new plants at its Enrichment and Children's Education Garden, which was damaged during a summer flood.

In addition, grants were awarded to Homefields Inc. to expand "Talks in the Fields" events to include activities that engage volunteers and community members in creating useable goods from its farm products that can be shared at Millersville's monthly Manor Market; Kraybill Mennonite School to purchase a greenhouse that will expand its organic learning garden, which was developed in partnership with the Edible Garden; and Landis Homes - Friends of the Woods and Wetlands to develop a speakers series that will include presentations by professionals on a variety of topics designed to expand environmental awareness.

Grants were also awarded to Landis Woods Nature Preschool for improving and expanding its previously launched sustainable garden by adding archways between raised beds, an outdoor composter, and a tiller for mixing compost into the soil, and Montessori Academy of Lancaster for acquiring several unassembled turning compost bins for use with the restart and rejuvenation of its hands-on composting program.

Awarded once a year, the grants are funded primarily with money generated through the club's annual Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike. Charitable, educational, or business organizations in Lancaster County that demonstrate a commitment to the Sierra Club's mission of exploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet are eligible to apply for a grant of $500 or less, according to program rules.

The deadline to apply for the next cycle of awards is Friday, March 31, 2023. Recipients will be announced on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. For complete details about the Green Project grant program, visit http://lancastersierraclub.org/grant-program or contact 717-475-0586 or jimsmeenan@gmail.com.