Although the Lakeside Garden Guild’s “Wipe Out Graffiti” program is currently in “maintenance mode,” individuals can still contribute in several ways.
They can hire a painter and take care of any unwelcome graffiti themselves, organize a cleaning or painting crew or simply volunteer with the organization to help, say representatives of the Guild.
The high-profile “Wipe Out Graffiti” project started in 2009. Guild women spent countless hours cleaning and painting each time an area was reported to have been tagged with graffiti.
The Lakeside Garden Guild website, www.lakesidegardenguild.org, has more information on this project and the ways one can help or donate money.The Lakeside Garden Guild was formed in September 1968 by women with a love of gardening and floral decoration. Their mission statement read: “The primary purpose of the Lakeside Garden Guild shall be the growing and showing of fresh plant material and organizing and supporting an annual community project.”
Over the years interest grew to include 40 women who have pioneered community projects to help local people, as well as beautify Ajijic and its surroundings.
Each November, the Lakeside Garden Guild presents a floral show hosting 250 guests to peruse 38 to 40 floral arrangements in a private home. Every year the theme is different, challenging each member to design and coordinate a floral idea and turn it into something spectacular and intriguing. The money from this event is donated to the “Wipe Out Graffiti” project, and toward donating small decorated Christmas trees to nursing homes or assisted living complexes. One of the other projects in process is a memorial to the late Juanita Reed, a long-time local resident and philanthropic contributor. This project will be completed in a few weeks and will be placed on the Ajijic malecon.