By: Patrick Smiggen - Mon, Jun 6, 2022 9:58 AM

Our recently formed Saint Thomas the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council #19790 completed their first service project Saturday, May 21. It was a great beginning to their service work. A habitat garden was installed along the eastern section of the wood fence adjacent to the parking lot.

Many thanks to all the Knights who worked extremely hard to complete the project and to their families who allowed their absence on a busy and beautiful Saturday: Jamie Boyle, Eric Bridge, Bob Herwaldt, Jim Herwaldt, Jim Milanowski, Sean Parini, Steve Strobel, John Salan, Steve Sumner, Marc Wadaga, Nick Wolfram, and David Yocca.

Thanks also to: Deanna Geelhoed and the Plaster Creek Stewards, who provided the native plants and other materials and loaned some of the tools, Kristen VerHage VanVuuren, from Katerberg VerHage Landscape, who helped us with our excavated materials, Grand Rapids Gravel, who provided the stone, Greenleaf Landscape Supply, who provided the soil amendments (compost), Dottie Yocca, who provided lunch and assisted with planting, God, who supplied near-perfect weather for our event.

Special thanks to Michael VanderHyde from VanderHyde Construction and his family, who supplied equipment to load and haul the excavated materials and a lot of time and labor. The habitat garden was made possible through a Sacred Grounds grant sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation. If you are interested in learning more about the Knights of Columbus and/or participating in future service projects, please contact Nick Wolfram, nickansas@gmail.com.