Now You Know: Art in Bloom, $177,000 special grant for Our Daily Bread

Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island invites the community to “Art in Bloom” from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Friday, April 19, presented in conjunction with Marco Island Center for the Arts. 

For an Art in Bloom exhibit, designers make floral designs to interpret a painting, sculpture, or other creative work, writes Sara Wolf, publicity chair for the club.

The floral designs are exhibited near their companion artwork. A reception will be held from 4 until 5:30 p.m., at Marco Island Center for the Arts, and all guests are invited to vote for their favorite floral design. All are welcome, and there is no admission fee.

Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island last produced an Art in Bloom exhibit in 2011. The photos illustrate how the floral designers interpreted their companion art pieces at that Art in Bloom exhibit, which, like this year’s Art in Bloom, was held with the cooperation of Marco Island Center for the Arts.

The painting of an outdoor café is represented by a floral design in similar colors. The clay teapot sculptures are interpreted with curving flower stems, while the marble fish sculpture is matched by the coral container adorned with small flowers.

The art exhibit that forms the foundation for Art in Bloom is the Adult Student Exhibit to be held April 8 through 30 at Marco Island Center for the Arts. This juried exhibition will show the best work of adult art students in a variety of media from classes at the Center for the Arts. 

Calusa Garden Club floral designers will choose a piece of art, study it, and make a design with flowers to refer to the art piece. The floral design should not mimic the art, but should interpret the artwork in some way, such as through colors, shapes or choice of materials.

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry designated as NCEF Hunger Initiative Blueprint Partner

As a Blueprint Partner for the Naples Children & Education Foundation’s Hunger Initiative, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry will collaborate with other nonprofits to implement “groundbreaking” programs that help to alleviate food insecurity by providing nutritious food to children and families in need.

As a member of this initiative, NCEF also awarded Our Daily with a $177,000 grant for 2024-2026. This funding will specifically support the pantry’s Helping Hungry Kids services and provide critical capacity building funding to purchase needed equipment to safely and more efficiently receive, handle, store and distribute food. Last year, children represented 39% of the individuals served by ODBFP.  

“As founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, NCEF has contributed so much to the well-being of children throughout Collier County,” said Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, Ed.D, executive director of Our Daily Bread.

“We are honored to be a part of their Hunger Initiative and look forward to working closely with our partners to provide nourishing food, hope and encouragement to the families and children we serve.”

As noted by the Naples Children & Education Foundation, “Kids who don’t get enough to eat, especially during their first three years, begin life at a serious disadvantage. The impacts of hunger on a child’s physical and mental health are significant, affecting their behavior, academic achievement and wellbeing. Children facing food insecurity may struggle in school and beyond.”

Maria Jimenez-Lara, NCEF CEO added, “We are pleased to welcome Our Daily Bread Food Pantry as a new member of our Hunger Initiative. Working together, it is our goal to ensure that every child in our community gets the nourishing food they need and deserve to succeed in life.”

Headquartered in Marco Island, the pantry provides food six days a week. If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, visit ourdailybreadfood pantry.org for scheduling information on services in Marco Island, East and South Naples, Golden Gate City, Golden Gate Estates, River Park and Lely.

Earth Day on the ‘Farm’ in Naples

Naples’ Empowerment Farm will host an Earth Day event starting with Sunrise Yoga at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 at the farm’s five-acre campus at 2600 Garland Rd., Naples. 

The event also includes an outdoor marketplace of local vendors, planting demonstrations, farm animal interactions and a raffle before ending at noon. 

Tickets are $20 per person for ages 11 and up. Children under 20 get in free. Registration and raffle tickets are available online at EmpowermentFarm.org

Day-of registration is available, but space is limited and registration in advance is recommended. Attendees should wear close-toed shoes for safety and plan to be outside for the entirety of the event. Empowerment Farm is still in the early phases of building out their campus, but attendees will be able to tour the farmyard, food forest, and operations center while learning about the future plans for the remainder of the campus and upcoming programming.

Proceeds of Earth Day on the Farm benefit Empowerment Farm programs for children and adults which cultivate community through compassion, cooperation and connection to the land, animals, and each other. 

Child Abuse prevention month: How you can help

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Youth Haven is offering ways you can help create awareness about the impact of child abuse and neglect, identify children who may need support and know where to refer families for resources and assistance.

Established in 1983, Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual observance every April in the United States dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. More than one million children are victims of child abuse and neglect each year, according to state child protective service agencies. Many victims don't receive help because they are not reported to the system.

Protecting children and teens also requires that each of use takes responsibility for recognizing and reporting signs of abuse and neglect.

Signs of abuse:

• Unexplained changes in behavior or personality
• Becoming withdrawn
• Seeming anxious
• Becoming uncharacteristically aggressive
• Lacks social skills and has few friends, if any
• Poor bond or relationships with a parent
• How to recognize signs of neglect:
• Starving, begging, stealing or hoarding food
• Having poor hygiene, matted hair, dirty skin or body odor
• Frequent illnesses, infections or sores
• Talking about no one being home to provide care
• Frequently late or absent from school
• Wearing inadequate clothing, especially in cool or cold weather

Two ways to report abuse or neglect:

• By Telephone 1-800-96ABUSE | 800-962-2873
• Online Web Reporting https://reportabuse.dcf.state.fl.us

“It’s crucial that we continue to raise awareness for this important cause and for the safety of our children and teens. If you know of any child or teen has been abused, please report it,” said Linda Goldfield, Youth Haven CEO.

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