West Trenton Garden Club Earns Top Honors for Community Service and Preservation Efforts

By Lynn Grillo

WTGC members Linda Reasoner (Vice President), Elle Belcheff (incoming President), and Virginia "Ginny" Sari (Board Member) accept the Hanover Garden Club Trophy with Sue Berdahl (in white), President of The Garden Club of New Jersey, at the Garden Club of New Jersey annual convention.

The West Trenton Garden Club (WTGC) is proud to announce that it received two prestigious awards this year, recognizing both its commitment to community beautification and its dedication to preserving the club's rich history.

The club received the Hanover Garden Club Trophy from The Garden Club of New Jersey for its Club Archive Preservation Project and a First Place Civic Development and Improvement Award from the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs for the flower beds installed at the Mill Hill Child Development Center.

"These projects represent the best of what our club does—preserving our past while continuing to beautify our community," said Linda Reasoner, WTGC Vice President, who prepared and submitted the award applications. "It was an honor to document the hard work of our members and see it recognized at the state and regional levels."

Hanover Garden Club Trophy Honors Archive Preservation Project

WTGC was awarded the Hanover Garden Club Trophy by The Garden Club of New Jersey for its Club Archive Preservation Project, a labor of love that rescued and preserved more than seven decades of club history.

For 72 years, the club collected photographs, documents, newsletters, and memorabilia that chronicled its activities, members, and community service projects. The archives were originally stored at the church where the club met. When renovations required the materials to be relocated, they were moved to a member's home for safekeeping. Years later, after that member passed away, the archives were transferred again, eventually ending up in a storage shed where moisture, mold, and the passage of time began taking their toll.

In October, a committee of six WTGC members took on the challenge of preserving this important collection. Members carefully sorted through decades of materials, salvaging and organizing what could be saved while removing items damaged beyond repair.

The result is a beautiful collection of seven archival scrapbooks. One volume covers the club's earliest years in the 1950s and 1960s, while additional books document each decade that followed. An eighth scrapbook was created to showcase the club's long-standing stewardship of Birmingham Park.

The project has become one of the club's most cherished accomplishments. Members enjoy browsing the scrapbooks, recognizing familiar faces from years past, revisiting memorable events, and remembering friends whose contributions helped shape the organization.

The preservation effort continues through a recurring newsletter feature that highlights photographs and stories from the archives, allowing current members to connect with the club's rich history and appreciate how far WTGC has come over the past seven decades.

Central Atlantic Region Award Recognizes Community Beautification

WTGC also received a First Place Civic Development and Improvement Award from the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs in the Large Club category. The award recognized the flower beds installed at the Mill Hill Child Development Center, a project completed last year to enhance the environment for children, families, and staff.

The award included a $100 prize and celebrates the club's commitment to civic improvement through horticulture and volunteer service. WTGC members worked together to design and install attractive flower beds that provide seasonal beauty and create a welcoming setting for the center.

The project reflects the club's ongoing mission of improving public spaces throughout the community while promoting the benefits of gardening and environmental stewardship.

Recognition at the Garden Club of New Jersey Convention

Representing WTGC at the awards ceremony were Linda Reasoner, WTGC Vice President and author of the award applications; Elle Belcheff, incoming WTGC President; and Virginia "Ginny" Sari, WTGC Board Member. The group proudly accepted the Hanover Garden Club Trophy on behalf of the club.

These awards highlight the dedication, creativity, and volunteer spirit that define the West Trenton Garden Club. Whether preserving decades of treasured memories or creating beautiful spaces that benefit the community, WTGC members continue to make a lasting impact throughout Ewing and the greater West Trenton area.

As the club looks toward the future, these honors celebrate both its proud history and its continuing commitment to service, education, beautification, and community engagement.

Congratulations to all the members whose hard work, dedication, and passion made these achievements possible.