PLANTING HOPE DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SPONSORS OF AUGUST COMMUNITY GARDEN FAIR

Wilmington, DE - Officials have extended the deadline for sponsors and exhibitors to participate in the Aug. 8 community Garden Fair at the Herman Holloway campus in New Castle, DE. Non-profit organizations, businesses and agencies seeking to reach attendees at the event now have until June 28 to register.

The Aug. 8 Garden Fair benefits the Planting Hope in Delaware initiative. The newly expanded Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) campus garden provides a healthy activity for persons with disabilities and a place for volunteers to grow fresh, healthy food to enhance and improve the health of the greater community. The Garden Fair, to be held on Aug. 8, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will promote community gardening, gardening for people with disabilities, healthy foods and the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The family-friendly fair, which is free and open to the public, will offer recipes and samples, gardening speakers, music, and other entertainment. Attendees can learn about local sources of fresh produce, approaches to starting home gardens, and tools that make gardening easy for people of all abilities. The event is hosted by DHSS and the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

For a $100 fee or product donation, Garden Fair vendors may display and sell gardening, fitness and health-related products or crafts. Exhibitors of health and wellness information pay $15 per table. Tables are available indoors or outdoors.

To be a Planting Hope in Delaware sponsor or exhibitor, complete and return the sponsorship form available at de.gov/plantinghope. The sponsorship levels and benefits are:

• Seed Starter: $100. Thanks and acknowledgement in the Aug. 8 Garden Fair program.
• Herbs, Flowers and Butterflies: $500. Thanks and acknowledgement in the Aug. 8 Garden Fair program, name on garden marker, free exhibitor's table.
• Tomatoes, Peppers and Cucumbers: $1,000. Thanks and acknowledgement in the Aug. 8 Garden Fair program, name on garden marker, acknowledgement in press releases, free exhibitor's table.
• Garden Guardian: $2,500. Name and logo in Aug. 8 Garden Fair program, name on garden marker, acknowledgement in press releases, name in radio public service announcement, name and logo on fair banner, and free exhibitor's table.

Checks and credit/debit cards are accepted. Make checks payable to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, with "Garden Project" in the memo line. Mail the form and payment to: Delaware Department of Agriculture - Garden Project, Faith Kuehn, Plant Industries, 2320 S. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901.

For more information about "in kind" sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, contact Faith Kuehn at 698-4587 or Faith.Kuehn@delaware.gov.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.