As some of you know, I'm a big fan of Knox Parks Foundation. The non-profit's most visible contribution to the community is probably those lovely flower pots that go out all around the city in the spring, beautifying streets and street corners. Love them. Knox also organizes regular volunteer events that clean up neglected areas and plant trees and flowers. The group even cleans up graffiti!

But perhaps the most important role that Knox plays in our community is through the work of its Green Crew Americorps program, which each year trains a group of young people, providing them with landscaping and gardening skills. In the process, the Green Crew helps keep Hartford beautiful by sprucing up property owned by other non-profits, maintaining community gardens, and working on other green spaces throughout the city. It's a win-win situation.  

Knox usually holds an annual gala to raise money to support the Green Crew and its Americorps program, but this year the non-profit went online and is holding a virtual auction to raise money. Why spend your money on eBay when you can spend it locally? Cityscapes 2009 is going on right now, and there are some great items up for auction, including vacation homes, spring yard cleaning by the Green Crew, art, tickets to events, and a gym membership.

I know times are tough all around, but hey, if you were planning to spend money on building a vegetable garden, why not put in a bid to get it done by Knox instead, and help out a great non-profit along the way? (Just don't bid against me, I'm trying to win that garden as a wedding present for a friend.) Bidding ends tomorrow at 8pm. Don't miss out!