Finding Beauty During The Pandemic: Club Works To Beautify Town

SAYVILLE, NY — In a time when the world needs a little more beauty, a local garden club has been working to bring some of that beauty to the Sayville community over the past few months — even during a pandemic.

The Sayville Garden Club didn't let the coronavirus stop them from staying active this spring and summer with various projects across Sayville. While the group has not being able hold meetings since March due to COVID-19, the members have continued to engage in activities to support and beautify the area.

For Memorial Day in May, some the members of the club worked to clean and plant vibrant red geranium at Sparrow Park on Middle Road.

In addition, members continued to keep the 9/11 Memorial Garden on River Road in pristine condition with weekly trimming and weeding.

Other member volunteers also worked to water and maintain the plantings around Gillette House and the Herb Garden at Edwards Homestead, while also participating in the town's Keep Islip Clean Program by cleaning up a portion of Main Street.

The group was sadly not able to plant their large vegetable garden at Meadow Croft this year, however the group still found a way to help. Members instead grew vegetables in their own gardens to then donate to the local food pantry.

In June, scholarships of $1,000 were awarded to students in Sayville and Bayport Blue Point High Schools for their interest in pursuing studies in environmental areas.

But the Sayville Garden Club didn't there. The group also worked to support 25 local merchants and restaurants that were forced to close because of the pandemic, by purchasing gift cards which where then given to local volunteers who have donated their services to those in need.