Bench honors local volunteer

For the City Times

The Stevens Point Area YMCA was recently gifted with a wooden bench by the Portage County Master Gardeners Volunteers in memory of Daniel Goulet, who helped establish the YMCA Community Gardens.

“When the YMCA received a grant in 2010, to create a community garden, leaders contacted Goulet, who had a recently retired as University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point professor. He and his wife, Kathy, had completed the Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers training program through UW Extension and enlisted the help of several Master Gardeners. They built 16 raised garden beds the first year and eight more in 2011 while other businesses and individuals donated soil, building materials, seeds and more,” a YMCA release stated.

The raised beds serve as a demonstration garden and inspiration on the west side of the YMCA.

“Goulet devoted countless hours to the YMCA gardens, building garden beds and other structures, installing efficient irrigation and tending to the garden. He was meticulous about building structures and recording growing and yield details,” the release said.

In 2012, Dan was honored with the YMCA Volunteer of the Year award in appreciation for his service to the YMCA.

Each year, the YMCA gardens have produced more than 1,000 pounds of fresh produce for children and families in need, as well as for community organizations such as the Salvation Army and Operation Bootstrap. The YMCA gardens also provide an opportunity for volunteers to connect and be active while serving the community.