Carol Stream resident recognized for ‘Helping Others Learn to Grow’
WHEATON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension volunteer Gail Sanders of Carol Stream earned honors from the Illinois Master Gardener program for her outstanding leadership and service efforts in DuPage County.
The 2022 state award recipients were announced during a special ceremony at the annual Illinois Master Gardener Conference, which this year was held in Tinley Park. The state awards celebrate University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners around the state, annually recognizing only 1 to 2 percent of active volunteers. Nominees must demonstrate leadership, initiative, and follow-through; collaborate well with other volunteers or organizations; and keep up with continuing education.
“Gail and all of these other hard-working volunteers exemplify the qualities of Master Gardener excellence and the mission to help others learn to grow,” said Jamie Viebach, the new DuPage County Master Gardener program coordinator. “Across the county and state, our fantastic volunteers serve their local communities in a variety of ways, from garden help and educational outreach to community donation gardens and therapeutic horticulture programs.”
Gail Sanders of Carol Stream has been a Master Gardener since 2013, and she currently serves as a key leader of the volunteer team at the DuPage Care Center garden program.
“She is the go-to person when gardeners have questions, and she takes on organization, planning, and preparation for events and daily tasks,” said Linda Kunesh, fellow Master Gardener and project leader. “In addition, Gail works on multiple Master Gardener projects in the county to share her love of gardening with those around her.”
She volunteers her time with the DuPage Care Center, Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, the Bloomingdale Garden Club community plot, the Cantigny Park docent team, and Kline Creek Farm. Since 2013, Sanders has logged 2,583 hours of service as a Master Gardener and completed 153 hours of continuing education.
At DuPage Care Center, she organizes the resident gardener sign-up; educates participants about vegetables, herbs, and flowers they may select to plant; tabulates and shops for the plants; and organizes the Resident Gardener Planting Day for as many as 65 participants each year. Through all this planning and preparation, Gail meets with the Master Gardener volunteer team and additional volunteers to explain in detail the processes involved.
“All of these tasks take a tremendous amount of time, planning, and organization, and her engagement helps it all go extremely smoothly,” said Kunesh. “Time and again, Gail has demonstrated in many projects and at various venues her tremendous dedication to the Master Gardener Program and the people it serves.”
Learn more about University of Illinois Extension in DuPage County at go.illinois.edu/extensiondkk.