Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) announced on Wednesday that Sunshine Community Gardens, Inc. has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the WEC Sharing Success Fund to support the expansion of a pollinator garden at the Cheryl L. Reinhardt Memorial Community Garden.
Sunshine Community Gardens, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening food security, hands-on learning, and community connection through accessible gardening opportunities in Barton County. Through partnerships with local conservation and extension organizations, the garden serves as a space where residents can grow food, learn new skills, and engage in environmental stewardship.
The grant will support the expansion of the garden’s pollinator area which provides essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects. This project will also create a hands-on learning environment where community members can explore native plants, gain practical knowledge about sustainable gardening, and better understand the role pollinators play in a healthy ecosystem, with educational signage and programming designed to engage individuals and families of all experience levels.
For the Great Bend community, the expanded pollinator garden will also support local biodiversity while enhancing the garden as an inviting space for residents to gather, learn, and connect. A stronger pollinator population benefits home gardens, local agriculture, and the overall health of the surrounding ecosystem.
The Sharing Success grant will help fund native perennials and educational signage, supporting a project that aligns with WEC’s broader commitment to responsible land management and environmental awareness. WEC is committed to supporting healthy ecosystems and wildlife habitats while responsibly maintaining a reliable electric system that delivers value to its members.
The Scott Community Foundation began formally accepting applications for grants from the WEC Sharing Success Fund from community-based organizations on Dec. 1, 2012. Since then, the application process has been moved internally and is currently handled directly by WEC. This year, WEC and CoBank have each contributed $15,000 to the fund. The program will continue to run until the funds are exhausted. Since 2012, WEC’s Sharing Success Fund has made $225,000 available to community-based organizations and projects across their service territory.
Community-based organizations interested in receiving funding from the WEC Sharing Success Fund can apply online at https://www.weci.net/sharing-success-program. Questions should be referred to Alli Conine, director of member services & corporate communications, at 620-874-4563 or aconine@weci.net.
