Elkhart County Works Together coordinators pose for a photo Dec. 3 at Greencroft after the Goshen Chamber of Commerce recognized ECWT with a Community Contribution Award. In front, from left, are Ben Beyeler, MJ Frey, Charity Arbogast, Kelly Acker, Val Collins and Gerry Hertzler. In back, from left, are Jason Pollock, David Schrock-Shenk and Greg St. Germain.

A Goshen-based grass-roots organization was recognized Thursday with a Community Contribution Award from the Goshen Chamber of Commerce.

Elkhart County Works Together, which has coordinated community garden projects, established a job skills bank and hosts a networking program for the unemployed, was cited at the Chamber’s annual dinner at Greencroft.

The award is given each year to a non-profit organization that “makes a significant impact in the community,” said Brent Randall, Chamber vice president.

Other recent recipients have included Maple City Health Care Center, Ryan’s Place and Center for Healing and Hope.

ECWT founder David Schrock-Shenk, who accepted the award for the organization, noted that economic difficulties are expected to continue in Elkhart County and he suggested a community response is needed.

“Our hope lies in an idea, and an ideal, that we are one community, and that we need to fashion a community response to a community problem,” Schrock-Shenk said. “We all have the opportunity to be part of that community and that effort as we seek to put that ideal into practice in the next year.”

Funds are being raised to help the organization continue its efforts in 2010. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Web site at www.ecwt.org, e-mail info@ecwt.org or contact Schrock-Shenk at 206 S. Main St., Suite One, Goshen, IN 46526.