Community health clinic brings back popular garden fundraiser with virtual twist

CAMDEN, S.C. - Nov. 18, 2020 - PRLog -- The Community Medical Clinic is bringing back their popular garden tour fundraiser to allow for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Lift your spirits and contribute to a good cause," said Susan Witkowski, CMC's CEO. "We're hoping this will be a real treat for garden lovers, especially to get us through winter."

The 2021 Beyond the Garden Gates Tour will kick off with videos and a virtual tour of four private gardens in Camden, to be released to ticket holders for viewing January 11 to 23, 2021. The tour will be hosted by horticulture expert Amanda McNulty of Clemson Extension and South Carolina ETV's weekly television program Making It Grow. McNulty will lend her expertise as she takes participants through the gardens in conversation with the owners.

On Saturday, January 23, the tour will conclude with a live Zoom event including a question and answer session with the gardens' owners.

"Your ticket purchase for the Beyond the Garden Gates tour will help us make Kershaw County healthier," said Cathy Forrester, the fundraiser's committee chairperson. "We're looking forward to premiering our tour in a virtual format."

Forrester's home garden will be featured as part of the tour. Her Charleston-inspired garden includes a formal garden adjacent to the house and a large, fenced yard with a berry room and fruit trees.

Other featured gardens include the English-inspired garden of Liza and Steve Van Horn, the cottage and Japanese-style gardens of Al and Sarah Reed, and the garden of Elizabeth and Rick Reames, featuring a variety of pollinator plants and native species.

Each garden is the culmination of years of planning and execution by garden enthusiasts who have agreed to open their garden gates to CMC's supporters for an exclusive look.

The garden tour is one of CMC's annual fundraisers. To purchase tickets, visit the clinic's website at https://www.cmcofkc.org/.

"As you're making your Christmas lists, grab your garden catalogs and buy a ticket to our tour for you and your friends," Witkowski said. "Every ticket purchase will help CMC provide the vital services we've been delivering for years in Kershaw County. Now, with COVID-19, the need is even greater and the strain on families to find affordable medical care has grown. Your support is more important than ever."

About CMC
Established in 1998, CMC is a community leader in providing healthcare resources and preventative care to the uninsured in Kershaw County. They provide primary care to patients at no cost while leading a collaborative effort to empower individuals to take charge of their own health and well-being. Learn more at cmcofkc.org.