Healing Garden

The Healing Garden was created in 2021 as a collaboration between SWIMGA and several community organizations including Be Kind For Ollie, Holly’s House, Parenting Time Center and What Matters Most Evansville. These organizations serve individuals who are dealing with grief or have been victims of crime, abuse or other trauma. Victims of crime are grieving a loss…of innocence, of self-determination, of future. In the wake of the 2020 pandemic people all over the world experienced the collective grief of COVID as a result of disruption of routines, isolation, fear, illness or death. Processing the pain of loss, whether from a pandemic or as a result of crime and aggression, is often difficult. At a time when so many people were struggling with grief these community partners sought to both increase awareness of and provide respite from grief.

The Healing Garden provides a place of quiet and beauty where people can sit and share stories, unpack burdens and commemorate loved ones. It is located east of the cabin under an arbor covered with Cross Vine and surrounded by Lenten Rose and Hostas. The bench, which was donated by Scout troops 32 and 302 from Methodist Temple in Evansville, is tucked away under the arbor. Visitors are invited to leave memory stones in this area.

Left of the Healing Garden is the Little Free Library that SWIMGA installed to offer books to the guests. The library is well maintained and well stocked with a variety of books including a selection of self help, recovery and devotional books to support visitors to the Healing Garden.

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