Category: Blog

A Garden Grows, A Legacy Lives On

Posted on by AD P
Grove Christian Outreach celebrates the Rob Till Community Garden ribbon cutting

On Saturday, September 13, friends, neighbors and community leaders gathered at 8901 Pocahontas Trail to celebrate something special: the re-dedication of the Rob Till Community Garden.

The Garden Party and ribbon-cutting ceremony marked not only the garden’s restoration, but also its formal inclusion in Grove Christian Outreach Center’s programming. What had once been a vision has now become a vibrant reality—an extension of Grove’s mission to serve vulnerable families with God’s grace and to ensure that fresh, nutritious food is accessible to all.

Among those present were Till’s sister, Senator J.D. “Danny” Diggs and John J. McGlennon of the James City County Board of Supervisors (Roberts District). All who knew Till agreed: keeping his legacy alive through service to the community and helping ensure neighbors have access to fresh food is something he would have cherished.

“This garden isn’t just a place for growing fruits and vegetables; it’s a place of connection, education and hope,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center.

The Rob Till Community Garden will supplement The Gathering Place at Grove, a free grocery market that offers local families fresh produce that nourishes both body and spirit.

Throughout the morning event, speakers highlighted the importance of access to fresh food—not only for its health benefits but also for its power to strengthen community bonds.

Guests toured the garden, enjoyed fellowship and shared in the vision of a sustainable future rooted in compassion and care for neighbors.

The day was a powerful reminder that when a community comes together, good things grow—literally and figuratively. Today, the Rob Till Community Garden stands as a living tribute to a man whose love for others continues to flourish through the work of many hands and generous hearts.

Chalkboard sign welcoming guests to the Rob Till Community Garden
Community members celebrating the dedication
Speaker addressing guests at Grove Christian Outreach garden event
Volunteer harvesting in the Grove Community Garden
Attendees enjoying fellowship at garden dedication event
Speaker and guests at community garden ceremony
Guests sharing conversation during garden dedication
Memorial stone honoring Robert Alan Till at Grove Community Garden
Speaker giving recognition at the Rob Till Community Garden dedication
Guests holding community garden photo frame at Grove celebration
Community supporters smiling at Grove Outreach garden dedication
Guests smiling with the community garden frame at the dedication
Volunteers posing at the Rob Till Community Garden dedication
Guests showing support signs at Grove community garden
Group photo of community members at garden celebration
Guests smiling inside garden-themed photo frame
Supporters holding signs at Rob Till Community Garden dedication

Run With Purpose at the 2025 Grove Trotter 5K/10K

Posted on by AD P

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the greater Williamsburg community will come together not just for fitness, but for hope. The 5th Annual Grove Trotter 5K/10K Bridge Run, hosted by Grove Christian Outreach Center, invites runners and walkers of all abilities to turn their miles into meaningful support for families facing hardship across greater Williamsburg.

Beginning at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, participants will follow a scenic and fully paved route along the Capital Trail, taking them over the Chickahominy River Bridge and back through the park. Whether you’re pushing for a personal best or simply walking in solidarity, every step taken helps fund essential services—like food assistance, financial aid, clothing, and dignity-driven programs like the Center’s Gathering Place, Williamsburg’s first free grocery market for local families in need.

“The neighbors we serve often have to make impossible choices – between rent and groceries, medication and electricity,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center. “No one should have to make those choices. This event isn’t just about running. It’s about showing up for our neighbors where it matters most.”

This year’s Grove Trotter marks a milestone fifth anniversary and is recognized as a Colonial Road Runners Grand Prix event, welcoming both competitive and casual participants. Races begin with packet pick-up at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 10K start at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:10 a.m.

Registration is currently $40 for the 5K and $45 for the 10K through August 30. From Sept. 1 through Oct. 10, prices increase to $45 and $50, respectively. Race day registration will be available at $50 for the 5K and $55 for the 10K. All participants will receive a finisher’s medal and commemorative T-shirt, with guaranteed sizing for those registered by Oct. 3. Please note: all entry fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and the event will be held rain or shine.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Grove Christian Outreach Center has served the greater Williamsburg community, starting in lower James City County, for two decades, offering a wide range of services to help neighbors navigate food insecurity, poverty, and crisis with dignity. Every registration, every dollar raise,d and every mile run makes a difference in the life of someone right here at home.

Sign up today here.