The 16th annual Downers Grove Garden Walk will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9. The Garden Walk is a fund -raiser to benefit the Bridge Board of the First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove (DGFUMC) which is a program partner with Bridge Communities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tickets for the Walk entitle participants to a lovely day viewing beautiful gardens in the Village of Downers Grove while helping to support previous homeless families. Bridge Communities’ focus is to transform the lives of homeless DuPage County families by guiding them to a better future, including providing housing, mentoring, direction, hope, encouragement, and a stable environment in which families can become self-sufficient and sustain their independence.
The cost to support each family is approximately $12,000 to $14,000 annually. Each family is mentored for two years making our involvement a large and very exciting outreach in which the DGFUMC is happy to be involved.
The Garden Walk is DGFUMC’s main fundraiser for the Bridge Communities with 100% of the proceeds from the Garden Walk going to support the work of the DGFUMC Bridge Board.
In recent years we have added a Spring concert to highlight the musical talents of our congregation, videos of which can be viewed on the DGFUMC YouTube channel.
Tickets for the 2022 Garden Walk went on sale June 3. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 July 9, the day of the event, and may be purchased in person at Community Bank of Downers Grove Anderson’s Book Store in Downers Grove, at Phillips Flowers & Gifts in Westmont, and at the Growing Place in Naperville.
Tickets may be purchased online at DGFUMC.ORG/Gardenwalk. Please go to DGFUMC.ORG/Gardenwalk for information on the beautiful gardens and a sneak preview. We appreciate your support and know you will enjoy the time spent outdoors in the lovely gardens.
—Michelle Waltmire