NSB Commits $15,000 to Sustaining “Magical” Alan Day Community Garden in Norway
NORWAY—Just off Whitman Street, the beautiful Alan Day Community Garden (ADCG) is open to anyone seeking meaningful connection and healthy, affordable food.
From educational workshops to people nurturing their own garden and preparing their own meals, the mission of “we improve our community’s health by providing opportunities to build relationships, learn, and grow food together” is carried out. The organization also offers a CSA program, hosts the Norway Farmers’ Market throughout the summer, operates a free food pantry, and provides community meals and events. In 2025, the ADCG will use its new commercial kitchen to host after-school cooking programs and, during the summer, the organization’s free youth leadership program teaches important skills in gardening, cooking, resiliency, and life.
“It really is a magical place to visit, and NSB is grateful for ADCG’s mission of planting seeds both in the soil and in the hearts and minds of those who encounter it,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of Norway Savings Bank. “The garden is truly an exceptional gift.”
That gift has inspired financial gifts from Norway Savings for years and drawn over 15 NSB team members to serve as volunteers. Norway Savings is continuing its longtime support of the Alan Day Community Garden with a new $15,000 commitment over three years, including the delivery of a $5,000 check in late December.
“The generosity of Norway Savings has helped generations gather together and assisted in enhancing our food distribution network in Oxford County,” said Cyndy Tinsley, a member of the garden’s Board of Directors.
“With all of our year-round food programs, come new expenses. Our kitchen is in full gear, our youth programs keep expanding, and our impact thankfully grows,” said Katey Branch, a workshop facilitator at ADCG. “The contributions of NSB are benefiting the youth who develop leadership skills, the local residents who learn from our workshops, and the thousands of people enjoying healthy meals and fresh produce.”
“ADCG helps kids like me be able to experience all of the life-changing opportunities that the garden has to offer,” said one youth leader who served in the garden’s summer program. “The ADCG taught me all about what a community truly means. Community is a strong connection between everyone and everything.”
“I think that when I came here to ADCG, I became more of a helpful person,” said another teen who participated in the youth programming. “I feel like I’m really part of my community and I’m really making a difference for people.”
Community members rave about the garden’s positive impact on the area, particularly in the many ways in which the ADCG programming is designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds and the transformative difference it can make. Over the past 15 years, ADCG has increasingly become a significant resource in creating local food security and helping to fight hunger in western Maine. With the opening of the onsite Little Free Food Pantry in 2024, ADCG has welcomed scores of local residents who are seeking food but also find an abundance of community resources.
ADCG is named after Alan Day, a community activist who lived for many years in the Oxford Hills area and made it known that the land and barn where ADCG now sits would make a great community garden. Day’s aspirational vision was brought to fruition by his daughters and their mom. What began as a tribute in 2008 has become a local food hub and center for education, community engagement, and joy.
“We envision a community where fresh, affordable food is accessible to everyone. Thanks to Norway Savings Bank and so many donors and volunteers who have rallied around this vision, we continue to experience remarkable success and growth,” said Rocky Crockett, Executive Director of ADCG.
“All of the participants, regardless of age and experience, gain knowledge about nutrition, gardening, leadership, and how communities flourish, while the garden itself offers real assistance to people in need,” said Anne Kern, ADCG’s Program Manager. “What could be a better use of this space than that?”
There are many ways to support the ADCG, including volunteering for a day, monthly contributions, or one-time financial and material donations. In 2025, ADCG is inviting youth with an interest in cooking skills to help prepare food for the community and adults with experience to help host these youth cooking programs. To learn more, visit www.alandaycommunitygarden.org/volunteer and you can also make a financial donation here. To check out a schedule of upcoming workshops and events, visit www.alandaycommunitygarden.org/events.
Pictured (L to R): ADCG volunteer Tina Merritt, ADCG program manager Anne Kern, ADCG executive director Rocky Crockett.
