Middleton Sertoma recognized one of our neighbors for his outstanding
service volunteering in our community. Dan Johnson has contributed
much to the Middleton and surrounding community with his work as
Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) garden manager and elsewhere in
the community.
Dan lead a group to start the garden. The garden is
now in its fifth year where clients can grow their own food and
give any excess to the MOM food pantry. Over these years the number
of gardeners has grown. This year the number of gardeners is up to
26 plus there are 15 mentors available for them.
Dan and team have made a huge impact in the community through this innovative program. By mixing community gardeners, who donate part of their produce to the food pantry, with MOM clients who can help feed their households, he has helped break down the barriers between those living in poverty and those who do not and give opportunity for people to provide for themselves by gardening.
Additionally Dan with a small group of friends "affectionately refer to themselves as the "geezer gleaners" rounded up nearly
34,000 pounds of food in 20012, the challenging, dry summer. In
2013 as part of the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens (link), they rescued
and harvested over 100,000 pounds of food, with the food going to
Second Harvest Food Bank, Community Action Coalition (CAC), MOM
and the Goodman Center.
Dan is also part of the "Green Team" installing lawn and
landscaping at the new homes for Habitat for Humanity of Dane
County. Dan also
works with Friends of Dane County Ferals where he is a coordinator for Outdoor
and Feral Cat Rescue.
Thank
you, Dan, for sharing your zeal for gardening and inspiring others to get
involved in their community!
Dan received the Service to Mankind award from Middleton Sertoma
club, presented by Mark Oesterle, club president (on the left in
the attached photo) at an awards
dinner at Fitzgeralds recently.
