The Dartmouth Grange honored individuals and organizations that made a positive difference with the presentation of the Annual Community Citizen Awards for 2020 and 2021.

The awards, which were presented at a ceremony Oct. 5 at the Dartmouth Grange, were delayed by 18 months because of the pandemic, Grange president Sam Manley said.

Anne Goodman, a teacher at Potter Elementary School in Dartmouth, was honored for her establishment of a pollinator garden, vegetable garden and tree nursery for her students. The garden is located behind the building.

“This is how children can learn about science,’’ Grange lecturer Nancy Jordan said in presenting the honor. “They get their hands dirty.’’

Manley said he would have welcomed such a program when he attended Potter School. 

“It is my pleasure to grow things every day,’’ Goodman said. 

Helfand Farm Community Gardens, a volunteer-run non-profit, was saluted for its garden plots that are tended by area residents, its soup kitchen garden, its annual plant sales and its free public workshops during the growing season. 

The soup kitchen garden supplies more than 3,800 pounds of fresh produce each year to people in need through the People Acting in Community Endeavors food bank in New Bedford and the Westport Food Pantry. 

The garden is located on Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust property at 318 Chase Road and is managed by the DNRT.

The garden serves “a refuge,’’ board member Marlene Holohan said. 

​​Ray Raposa and Tina Nowell of Hay Ray’s Farm and Feed in Westport were honored for their contributions to the Right To Farm Laws in Westport and their advocacy for agriculture.

Raposa thanked the community for patronizing the business. “If it wasn’t for the support of the agricultural community of Westport, we wouldn’t be here,’’ he said. 

Dartmouth United Outreach, a volunteer-driven initiative of churches and businesses, was awarded for providing free food to anyone in need every Tuesday since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lyn Dillies, a noted magician, turned to community outreach as her business bookings slowed and she recognized the need to support those struggling through the pandemic, she has said. She helped form the initiative that is responsible for the green heart-shaped “hope’’ signs that have sprouted on town lawns.

“Instead of making people and animals disappear, she has been making food appear’’ on the plates of those in need, Jordan said.

Dillies said the outreach is a team effort. “We pride ourselves on feeding people more than just food,’’ she said. “We feed them hope.’’