Contact: Cathi Litcher
Email: topsailnccommunitygarden@gmail.com
Phone: 919-422-9698
Photos available upon request

Hampstead, NC – April 2025 — The Greater Topsail Community Garden is thrilled to unveil its newest interactive community art initiative: Rocco the Rock Snake. This vibrant, winding trail of hand-painted rocks invites residents of all ages to contribute to a playful and meaningful public art installation.

Rocco’s journey begins at the Holly Ridge Bee Festival on Saturday, April 26, where festivalgoers can visit the garden’s booth to paint a rock and become part of something truly special. After the event, each decorated rock will be carefully placed in the garden to form Rocco’s ever-growing body.

“Rocco is more than just a rock snake—he’s a community story in motion,” said Cathi Litcher, Community Liaison and Garden Coordinator for the Greater Topsail Community Garden. “Every painted rock represents someone who showed up to be part of something bigger—and that’s exactly how our garden grows.”

The rocks for the project were generously donated by Atlantic Mulch and Stone of Holly Ridge, NC, a loyal and longstanding partner of the Greater Topsail Community Garden. Since the earliest days of the garden’s construction, Atlantic Mulch and Stone has played a foundational role—beginning with the donation of rich, healthy topsoil used to fill the first raised beds in 2023. Their continued generosity makes projects like Rocco possible, helping our community garden thrive from the ground up.

This art initiative is deeply rooted in the garden’s mission to connect people through service and sustainability. In 2024, the garden’s first full growing season, volunteers completed 55 harvests, donating 2,821 pounds of fresh produce and herbs to Share the Table—an estimated value of nearly $24,000. All donations support the Expanding Healthy Choices Program of Share the Table, bringing nutritious food to families in need throughout Pender and Onslow Counties.

“This garden represents intergenerational leadership at its best,” added Litcher. “We’re cultivating not only crops—but creativity, collaboration, and compassion.”

EVENT DETAILS

🎨 Paint a Rock for Rocco
🗓️ Saturday, April 26, 2025
📍 Holly Ridge Bee Festival – Greater Topsail Community Garden Booth
🎟️ Open to all ages – no experience necessary
📷 Media are welcome to photograph the debut and visit the garden in May

Volunteering is open to all ages, and there are opportunities available every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Not all garden work involves getting dirty—there are ways for everyone to contribute. As a bonus, anyone who stops by to volunteer is invited to paint a rock to add to Rocco and become part of the community story!

About the Greater Topsail Community Garden

Founded in 2022 and built through a partnership between the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island and Surf City Rotary, the Greater Topsail Community Garden sits on one acre of community-supported land. All produce is grown by volunteers and donated to Share the Table, a nonprofit addressing local food insecurity. With over 2,000 volunteer hours logged in 2024 and partnerships with more than 85 organizations, the garden champions intergenerational leadership, sustainable food access, education, and community engagement.

Media Contact:
Cathi Litcher
📧 topsailnccommunitygarden@gmail.com
📞 919-422-9698
🌐 https://kiwanisoftopsailisland.org/community-garden/
📍 Garden Location: 282 Valhalla Way, Hampstead, NC 28443