Presbyterian staff, in collaboration with the city of Clinton and the Clinton Community Garden Project, hosted the incredibly advertised Gathering in the Garden. Here we were able to enjoy the sight of the community garden that many volunteers dedicated their Saturday mornings to, whilst enjoying delicious homemade food such as sausage and veggies and live music. The Gathering in the Garden took place in the parking lot of a church down the street from Presbyterian College. Live music played in the background, provided by a local band called Soul Intent, as people entered in a raffle, kids played, and community members mingled. Not to mention, in attendance were employees from Prisma Health who were offering free health screenings. Walking-wise, I felt as though planners did the best they could to place the Gathering where as many people as possible could walk to it. Of course it wasn’t ideal, but Clinton offers few ideals when it comes to accessibility and walking, so I and many others applaud them for that. However, it saddened me to see that the only people who walked were the people who were without cars, likely due to economic disadvantage. This proved once again how cities without proper walkability further the divide between the haves and the have-nots. I was given the opportunity to discuss this event and its impact on many of the elderly community members. They remarked how happy they were to see Clinton hosting such a wholesome event. There were also many of the economically disadvantaged who were able to relax with warm food and entertainment, a pleasure they, like the rest of us, all deserve to have. At the end of the night, we scooped up the foldable tables, shut down the buffet-style food choices, and tossed away every piece of trash until there was no trace of our event. It was sad to see the night come to a close, but it promised that we did not only prioritize the events held in Clinton, but the sanctity of it as a whole. I believe it’s important to touch on its message to the public as well. Clinton, like other cities in South Carolina, also deserves events where all demographics feel both welcomed and at ease when entering the spaces. Too many times, we see a divide between ages, races, economic classes, and many other demographics that we let define us. Community and collectiveness strips everyone from the label that society has granted them and allows full immersion into what humans were meant to be: together.

A Blue Hose shoutout is owed to Dr. Brent, Ezra Marks, Dr. Moore, and all of the other wondrous staff members who gave their valuable time in exchange for this fun, fun event.