Published: December 15, 2007 12:53 am      

Healing Garden

A group interested in the development of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is seeking at least $125,000 to create a “healing garden” on the hospital grounds.

Tom Wright, chairman of the Friends of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, said such gardens have been shown to stimulate patient recovery.

“There’s been a lot of research done on healing gardens that can back up evidence pointing to healing gardens being helpful to the recovery of patients,” Wright said. “They seem to have a soothing and healing effect.”

The garden will be located in an open area between the hospital’s southeast building and the chapel. It will include a winding, wheelchair-accessible path with benches and plants, with a mix of perennials, shrubbery and trees year-round.

Wright said the Hospital Sisters have already pledged $100,000 toward the project. The Friends’ goal is to raise an additional $125,000 in the next few months to augment the nuns’ donation. Donors will have the opportunity to honor or memorialize a loved one or friend through inscription on paving bricks that will make up the winding path through the garden.

“We’re really excited about this,” Wright said. “St. Anthony’s is such a forward-thinking hospital.

“This project pushes us out front again,” he added. “It will be a real asset to the patients and their families.”

For more information about the garden and the paving program, call development associate Donna Niemerg at 347-1854.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.