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Greeting Creators!

Fall is officially here and at Killeen Creators we are ready for the cool weather to kick in!

Please join us in celebrating our collective achievements and getting ready for our upcoming Creator opportunities!

KC FUNdraising Day!

Save the Date! October 24^th will be our FUNdraising Yard sale and Cookout!

Yard Sale: 10am-4pm
Cookout: 12pm-3pm
Games throughout the FUNdraising!

Colorful bunting flags inviting the community to the October 24 FUNdraising Day yard sale and cookout.

Why a FUNdraiser?

ALL funds raised is to support our Community Gardens, Studio Clubhouse, fostering recovery from food insecurity, trauma and addiction.

We run on donations from the community so that we can give it right back with our services. Thank you to ALL that support us at Killeen Creators!

AMERICORPS CORNER

Here's this month's fun joke from AmeriCorps!

How do you mend a broken jack-o'-lantern?

Get the answer at the end of the newsletter. 🥰

Meet Our New AmeriCorps Members!

Landon Cobbins

Hello, my name is Landon Cobbins. I'm an experienced farm hand from Wichita, Kansas, and I'm currently an AmeriCorps member with Killeen Creators.

I'm very familiar with handling and working with produce, and I'm excited to use my experience to support the community in any way I can. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Killeen Creators and getting to know new people, whether they're fellow AmeriCorps members or community members who participate in our classes or spend time in the gardens.

Being part of Killeen Creators has given me the opportunity to connect with the community, learn from others, and contribute through the work we do together. I'm looking forward to continuing to grow, learn, and make a positive impact.

Fun fact about me: I'm a total filmaholic! I love movies and enjoy discovering new films whenever I get the chance.

Vivian Moon

I joined the AmeriCorps team at Killeen Creators because I believe art and nature are foundational for healing. My goal is to empower myself to empower others, and Killeen Creators does this beautifully through their gardens and art recovery programs.

I'm happy to help with the garden and studio & hope to lead creative classes for wild and free self-expression.

Fun fact: I love to freestyle rap!

Drew Nevitt

Howdy hey! I chose Killeen Creators & AmeriCorps because after being a history and English teacher, a soldier, a photojournalist, and a ranch hand, I see how enriching it is when we grow our own food and rebuild the sense of community and belonging that many Americans have lost.

Fun fact: I'm an aspiring anthropologist.

Cammie Holden

I'm Cammie Holden, and having recently moved here with my family, I'm deeply invested in planting roots and lifting up our new community. I want to blend my past career and life experiences to fuel a true passion: connecting and supporting the creative and recovery communities through my service with AmeriCorps and Killeen Creators.

My service is teaching me to adapt quickly, solve tough problems on the fly, and build genuine, ground-level connections with people from all walks of life. I'm ready to bring that exact resilience and perspective into a fast-paced creative environment.

My goal is to help the team at Killeen Creators bring bold, impactful stories to life while doing work that truly matters—bringing people together with compassion, knowledge, and practical skills to prove we can overcome even the most difficult situations in our busy lives. The reason I wanted to join AmeriCorps and Killeen Creators is the impactful opportunity that is offered for the community. Making a difference and changing the stigma in our community. Changing lives matters to me.

Stay tuned to re-meet our RETURNING AmeriCorps in our NEXT issue!

COMMUNITY GARDENS

What Should We Do in Our Gardens in October?

Raised garden beds and the Killeen Creators sign at the 10th Street Garden with the greenhouse behind.

Kale growing in a raised bed beside hand-painted markers for kohlrabi and lettuce in the fall garden.

Since October is the first full month of Fall, we should have planted most if not all our fall crops and they should be coming up beautifully. Our Summer crops that love the heat will be winding down and if you have any perennials they will be coming to a close.

At this point we want to start mulching our plants, maintaining the garden by weeding, pruning, and fertilizing.

Start watching how much you water as the temperature drops.

Lastly, we want to start getting ready to plant strawberries, onions, and garlic at the beginning of November, so get your orders in soon!

~ AmeriCorps Member, 10^th Street Garden Lead
Courtney Fisher

Garden Rundown
Crops to harvest in October

Everyone is welcome to come to all of our gardens to harvest what's ready. If you aren't sure what's ready you can ask an AmeriCorps Member or Staff that is present!

Hand-painted raised beds and climbing trellises holding the fall harvest ready to pick at Killeen Creators.

What is available and ready varies day to day, season to season. Come on by to check out what we have!

Garden Workdays

If you've been interested in helping in the gardens or interested in learning how our garden works, come to our garden workdays!

Alvarez Garden: Tuesdays 9am-11am
10^th Street Garden: Thursdays 9am-11am
Kelly's Garden: Saturdays 8am-10am

If there is extreme weather (like downpours and thunder/lightning) it is safe to assume we wont be having a workday! Check our Facebook page if wondering.

We ALWAYS prioritize the safety of our staff, AmeriCorps Members and community.

ART OF RECOVERY CLUBHOUSE

Our OCTOBER CALENDAR

Click here to SIGN-UP for classes on our Eventbrite

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Hearts Of Killeen Sculpture Series

Greater Killeen Area Recovery Oriented System of Care (GKAROSC) Coalition

Killeen Creators was awarded a two year grant from The Hogg Foundation of Mental Health to strengthen the organization's long-term goals for the continual development of a community-led Recovery-Oriented System Of Care (ROSC).

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Kristin Wright at 254-577-0336 or kristin@killeencreators.org.

NEW GRANT
ALERT!

Small seedling sprouting to mark the new two-year Hogg Foundation grant for community-led recovery work.

VOTE! – Your Voice Matters – For You and for Our Community

Dear Killeen Creators Community,

At Killeen Creators, we believe recovery and well-being are about more than what happens within any one person. Our physical health, mental health, and community health are deeply connected to the conditions in which we all live, work, grow, and care for one another.

That's why civic engagement is part of our mission.

Using our voice—by staying informed, voting, speaking up, attending community meetings, volunteering, and participating in decisions that affect our lives—is one way we care for ourselves and each other.

Whatever your views, I encourage every member, volunteer, participant, and supporter of Killeen Creators to use your voice and participate. Learn about the issues. Ask questions. Listen to one another. Vote when you are eligible. And stay engaged beyond Election Day.

ELECTION DAY = November 3
EARLY VOTING = October 19 - October 30

Healthy people need healthy communities—and healthy communities need people who show up.

Your voice matters. Your participation matters. You matter.

With gratitude,

Megaphone graphic urging the community to vote on November 3, with early voting October 19 through 30.

Kristin Wright
Founder & Executive Director
Killeen Creators

October JOKE Answer:

With a pumpkin patch!

Row of pumpkins and gourds across the footer, illustrating the answer to this month's AmeriCorps joke.

Our Team would like to thank all volunteers, sustaining members, and those supporting us in donations and spreading positive vibes!

We couldn't do it without help from all within this community.

Thank you message from the Killeen Creators and AmeriCorps team to every volunteer and sustaining member.

Lots of Love,
Killeen Creators and AmeriCorps Team

Become a Sustaining Member poster with QR code and $5 to $100 membership tiers and member benefits.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

DONATE

Killeen Creators

701 N 10th St, Killeen TX 76541|254-213-2210

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