The weather has made it tough to actually work at Mitzvah Garden KC (MGKC). Despite that seasonal reality, MGKC did have a wonderful celebration of Tu b’Shevat on Wednesday, Jan. 27, via Zoom. Village Shalom rebroadcast this 21st annual seder was rebroadcast on Sunday, Jan. 31.
MGKC was pleased to announce the largest ever list of Golden Trowel awardees for 2021/5781 as part of the seder.
Each of these people has gone above and beyond to contribute to our mission to feed those in need and “grow the good in our community at MGKC.”
The awardees are:
Vivian Broussard who is a volunteer at the New Haven Food Pantry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Overland Park. Vivian came to the garden most Sundays to harvest produce and bring it directly to the food pantry for distribution that same afternoon.
Jess Bryan found MGKC through a posting for volunteer opportunities. She became the first-ever MGKC floral coordinator growing wonderful bouquets that were delivered to beautify Shabbat at several congregations.
The Glickman family (Dani, Ellie, Gavi, Annie and Rabbi David) have all been involved over the past year. Dani celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah recently and her community service project involved her and volunteers she recruited moving compost to prepare the garden for planting in the spring.
Dr. Michael Handler took charge of the popcorn patch leading to the garden’s largest-ever harvest of this beautiful, nutritious and fun crop.
Jennifer and Chuck Luchen worked tirelessly to plan, plant and maintain the garden. They each put in many extra hours of work during the week in addition to Sundays. Chuck designed and built the amazing pergola, which is the beautiful, new gateway into the garden.
Gary Rogoff designed and built the actual gates that hang on the pergola. The gates are designed to remind us of the luchot (two tablets of the covenant) and how caring for those in need is a central tenet of Judaism.
The Sales family (McKenzie, Jackson, Jennifer and Adam) came together to volunteer on Sundays. McKenzie took it upon herself to harvest flowers, arrange beautiful bouquets and deliver them to local congregations to beautify the bimah for Shabbat services whether they were in person or virtual.
Marge and Bill Schlosberg came regularly to help with all aspects of garden work. According to Bill, “If it’s Sunday, it means it’s time to go to the garden.”
Ken and Lauren Sigman put in many hours of work to make it easier to keep the weeds under control as MGKC shifts to a lower-till style of gardening. Ken, past president of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, could even be found in the garden at twilight.
A special Golden Boomerang was given to Brenda and David Ruppel for coming back to MGKC after living in Duluth, Minnesota, for the past five years. David designed and built “Project Matar,” which is the water capture and irrigation system used to keep the garden watered even during the two- to three-week droughts experienced each summer.
Finally, “Golden Chewtoys” went to Niko (Handler) and Champ and Bear (Ruppel) who regularly came to the garden bringing their tail wagging and good cheer to volunteers.
If you’d like to join these wonderful volunteers, contact the new MGKC shlichah (coordinator), Brenda Ruppel, at or 913-689-9107.
