Tammy Graeber and her team of volunteers saw to it that the green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini and beans got all planted. Now, the rest is up to sunshine, water and God.

It is that faith in God that is attributed to the success of the Garden of Giving in McMichaels.Last year, Tammy's faith led her to turn two and a half acres she owns into a garden that feeds those in need in her community. As a volunteer at her church's supplemental food pantry, she noticed that all the food items are prepackaged, processed foods and not very nutritional. She wanted to do something about that. So everything that the garden produces is donated to several food pantries in Monroe County.Everything from the plants to the time people spend at the garden is donated.Last Sunday Girl Scout troop 541 of East Stroudsburg volunteered planting time. Last Monday, members of the Red Robin Team, colleagues of Tammy, spent the whole day planting and mulching.Red Robin of Stroudsburg donated hot dogs and hamburgers and rolls and members of the Garden's board, Cindy Parks and Adele Argot, donated food to feed the working crews."I couldn't do it without them," Tammy says of the many volunteers who help her make the Garden a reality.Nathaniel Snyder of Pen Argyl works with Tammy and came to help plant because she's a good friend and he thinks the Garden has a good purpose.Reggie Spand of Bartonsville also works with Tammy."I'm here to help the community. I think it's a great idea to raise fresh vegetables for families in need. I'm here with my friends and it's been an all around good day," she says.Chiara Lee of Reeders, a member of the Red Robin Team says, "I feel like everyone should have to do community service at least once, just because you have to give back where you live."Tammy is very grateful to all those who have stepped forward to help, whether it was in donations or volunteer work in the garden. She says she won't need volunteers now until it's time to harvest the various crops and to deliver the fresh produce to the various food pantries and banks.If you would like to help Tammy and The Garden of Giving to continue producing fresh vegetables to the community's families in need through donations or volunteering, you can call 570-402-1282 or email

gardenofgiving@gmail.com.