St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Derby has launched an inspiring gardening project in partnership with Breakthrough Episcopal Social Services and its local Clubhouse. This project provides fresh produce for Breakthrough’s lunch program while offering meaningful work opportunities for its members. This initiative beautifully reflects shared values of stewardship, creation care, and addressing food insecurity in the community.
Clubhouse members had a wonderful time working alongside Mother Maddy Bishop-Knoth and the parishioners of St. Andrew’s as they prepared the ground for planting. Together, they will grow vegetables for the Clubhouse culinary program—a tangible reminder of what can grow when communities come together with purpose and compassion.
The Clubhouse model is grounded in social practice. It uses shared work to build skills, increase self-efficacy, and improve the well-being of people with mental health diagnoses. Members experience a sense of purpose and belonging through meaningful tasks like gardening, which are key elements in mental health recovery. Work as a therapeutic intervention.
Breakthrough ESS is grateful for the partnership and excited to see this garden flourish in the coming seasons and the lives it touches.
by the Rev. Andy Houltberg, CEO Breakthrough Episcopal Social Services
835 SW Polk St.