Gardeners sell their extra plants and raise $167 for the firefighters’ thermal camera.
LIVERMORE – A group of local “green thumbs” thins out their plants each year to benefit charity. At the same time, they share their bounty with each other and strengthen a bond of friendship.
For the last four years, these women have dug up plants and perennials from their gardens to sell at a silent plant auction.
Prior to the auction, the group, which grows each year, chooses a charity to donate the proceeds to. This year, the women chose to give their money to the Livermore Fire Department to help buy a $12,500 thermal-imaging camera, which helps locate warm bodies and detect fire in the walls of a building. It also helps with search and rescue missions.
“Everybody agreed it was good asset to the community,” said Patty McDaniel, this year’s host. “It’s something the community needs.”
People bring in plants and their garden objects, such as potting soil, a package of seeds, even a garden decoration.
Some people brought shoots of lilacs and some peonies and hostas, among other greens, to McDaniel’s house last Sunday. Her daughters, Ashley and Whitney, helped keep track of the items.
People wrote down on slips of paper what they were willing to bid on about 40 plants that were on the block. After two hours, the bids were read and the highest bidder took home the plants.
Bids range anywhere from 25 cents to $4 or $5, McDaniel said.
“It’s a fairly inexpensive way to build our flower beds,” she said, “and it’s neat because you remember who you get it from.”
This year they raised $166.82.
“Everyone was happy about where the money was going to,” she said, “and some threw in a little extra.”
Livermore Fire Chief Randy Berry said his wife, Diane, came home with her plants and was right in the garden planting them last weekend.
People went home with anywhere from two to 15 plants, McDaniel said.
So far, the Fire Department’s thermal-imaging camera committee has raised nearly $1,900 to go toward the camera, he said, including the gift from the gardeners.
The department received a grant of $3,400 toward the camera, and the remaining $9,100 is being raised locally, Berry said.
“We need to raise $6,000 by December of this year,” he said. The camera will come into their hands next month, he said. The rest of the money needs to be raised by December the following year.
An ongoing bottle drive at Guild’s Bottle Redemption on Route 4 in Livermore has netted about $400 so far, he said.
Berry and committee Chairman Jake Letendre are reviewing their options for future fund-raisers.
Next year, the silent plant auction will be hosted by Michelle Berry.
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