The Friends of the Occoquan environmental group received a $10,0000 donation to educate the community about rain barrels.
The barrels are used to collect rain water and to help conserve water.
Deborah Johnson from Dominion Virginia Power presented a $10,000 check to Friends of the Occoquan President German (pronounced Herman) Venegas on Tuesday at the Prince William County Government Center.
Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) provided more information about the rain barrels project, and how the organization will use the funds:
FOTO will utilize the funds requested for the continuation of our Rain Barrel Workshops and to introduce local groups and organizations within the Prince William and Fairfax Counties to the benefits of establishing food gardens.
Our target for this project will be the Prince William County Schools, civic associations, senior retirement centers and Spanish speaking organizations. Funds will also go to preparing videos and literature that will advertise, educate and inform the public on these two projects.
To date FOTO has had several Rain Barrel Workshops that have included the Prince William County School System. When FOTO does a school workshop the barrels we work on are donated to the school for their use.
Our first goal with this project is to continue to educate the public on the multiple benefits of using rain barrels for both gardening and redirecting water run off to promote water conservation and prevent erosion. Secondly, to encourage the establishment of home/community food based gardening that has a foundation as a water-conserving garden. By establishing these gardens community members can grow their own local food and have a healthier diet.
With both these projects we hope to increase a sense of community ownership and stewardship to both our watersheds and rivers as well as the foods we eat.
FOTO will evaluate their success by:1. Conducting at least 3 workshops
2. Installing at least 10 rain barrels
3. Establishing at least 2 home/community food-producing gardens
4. Making at least one video and broadcast it in local TV stations.
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