Rock Garden Farms presented with local leadership award

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Rock Garden Farms can add another community award to the mantle piece after being recognized by Bethell Hospice for their “tremendous” ongoing support of the local non-profit. 

Bethell Hospice presents an annual award to individuals or local businesses that help support and provide assistance to the Bethell Hospice Foundation.

The Elizabeth Birnie Leadership Award was presented to Margaret and Paul Galati, and Nick and Tish Iuglio of Rock Garden Farms on October 14 for their help promoting Bethell Hospice, fundraising and overall support since 2010. 

The award, created in 2012, is named after Bethell Hospice co-founder Elizabeth Birnie who remarked how Rock Garden impacts the foundation on a daily basis.

“I personally use Rock Garden Farms produce every Monday when I volunteer in the kitchen, making everything from homemade soups with vegetables to smoothies with berries,” she said. “We feel so fortunate to have Rock Garden Farms as our community partner.”

Alongside Birnie and other Bethell Hospice staff members, Chair of the Board of Directors John Sanderson also attended to present the award.

“As a business who has been a steadfast supporter of Bethell Hospice since 2010, Rock Garden Farms was the unanimous choice of the Bethell Hospice Foundation to receive the 2020 award,” he said. 

Rock Garden Foods has been providing Bethell Hospice with fresh produce every week for the past decade. Each and every Thursday the Bethell Hospice kitchen receives their weekly box of fresh produce to help them prepare and serve home-cooked meals for all hospice residents. 

“So many of our kitchen volunteers and hospice staff wanted to be here today to show their appreciation but, because of COVID-19, our numbers had to be limited.  Please know how widely your generosity is valued by everyone associated with Bethell Hospice, and how grateful we all are for your ongoing support,” Birnie remarked.