Bea Shacknow was well loved and respected at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library. She devoted a great deal of time to the children in the community and was also a master gardener.
After she passed away, the staff at the library wanted to honor her memory and in 2008 decided to create a memorial garden.
Donations were made to the library and in addition to a plaque in her memory in the family center, staff members started the Bea Shacknow Memorial Garden, which is located along the southeast corner of the library’s property.
Staff members, spearheaded by Elaine Zimmer and Heather Greco, along with teen volunteers, cleaned the area, turned over and fortified the soil and planted flowers and vegetables.
Over the last two summers, the vegetables, including tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini and eggplant, were picked and brought to the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) in Hempstead to help feed the hungry.
The INN was founded in 1983 as a single soup kitchen run by a small group of concerned volunteers. Working at a church in Hempstead, the volunteers discovered that not only were there large numbers of hungry people on Long Island, but that individuals working together could make a difference in their lives.
“I am so pleased with the work that everyone has done,” said library director Gretchen Browne.
The library, which is located at 999 Old Country Road, is still looking for teen volunteers looking for service credit to help cultivate the garden. Contact the library at 938-0077 for more information.
For more information about the INN, contact 486-8506.
