Landscape designer Lynley Ogilvie with plants for fundraiser for SHARE. Photo contributed
Lynley Ogilvie has a long history of volunteer service to the McLean community through her church and local schools. Inspired by her children’s desire to help those in need because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ogilvie realized she could use her connections as a landscape designer to raise money for a local food bank which was overwhelmed with the demand for services from needy citizens. She went to work planning a fundraiser and finished by raising $5,000 for SHARE, the McLean-based nonprofit that serves the emergency needs of local citizens.
“Several neighbors mentioned to me that they wanted pretty plants to brighten their gardens but were hesitant to go to the garden center,” Ogilvie said. “When I asked my son George to help me deliver plants, he suggested we have a plant sale to benefit SHARE.” She added, “My daughter, Jayne, thought that was a great idea and both kids offered to help. We’re not medical professionals, and we can’t sew face masks, but this family knows plants, and it was a nice way to bring joy to people while raising money for a wonderful organization.”
Ogilvie, owner of Lynley Ogilvie Landscape Design, contacted one of her plant suppliers, Babikow Wholesale Nursery in Baltimore, Md., about her idea for a plant sale and then put together a list of spring plants, including native perennials and annuals. She emailed neighbors and friends in the McLean area and was overwhelmed when 91 of her neighbors purchased plants. Lynley worked with her children, George and Jayne, both students at McLean High School, to organize the pick-up of plants from her house while following the guidelines for safe distancing set forth by the Centers for Disease Control.
“Lynley did some work in our yard a couple years ago that was beautiful,” said McLean resident Laurie Plishker. “So when I saw that she and her kids were doing a plant sale for SHARE, I knew I would get quality plants, as well as the right ones to be planting now,” she added. “The fact that the proceeds would benefit SHARE was even better.”
SHARE president Don Frickel said that the group celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.
“We have been helping our neighbors all these years because of generous people in our community like Lynley Ogilvie,” Frickel said. “We are so grateful on behalf of our clients for the giving spirit of our community,” he added. “We are the conduit, but people like Lynley are the source of this community’s caring response to our hurting neighbors.”
SHARE Inc. is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit corporation providing emergency assistance since 1969 to the less fortunate in McLean and nearby areas of Northern Virginia. The organization’s food and clothing donation rooms are housed in the McLean Baptist Church.
Local businesses, schools, churches and synagogues usually collect food during Easter and Passover and SHARE is feeling the loss of those donated items. The group asks McLean residents to take time to think about neighbors in need and consider donating to SHARE.
A list of most wanted items can be found at https://www.shareofmclean.org/. Additional ways to donate are listed on SHARE’S Facebook page located at https://www.facebook.com/ShareOfMclean/. SHARE is not accepting clothing, shoes, or household items at this time.