The 黑马磁力 Food Bank is receiving a shipment of some much needed produce, thanks to 黑马磁力 students.
It鈥檚 all part of Nature鈥檚 Classroom, a unique program funded by a $14,000 donation from Envision Financial in partnership with the 黑马磁力 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) and Maples Discovery Gardens.
Over the course of 12 weeks from April to June, 黑马磁力 students in five classes selected from 黑马磁力 Meadows, R.C. Garnett, 黑马磁力 Fine Arts School and Alex Hope Elementary schools attended six workshops at Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op.
During this time, the students were given a chance to plant their own vegetable gardens while learning about soil and composting and becoming stewards of the environment.
With students away from school on summer vacation, the produce was harvested last week (Aug. 14) by Envision Financial, LEPS, Maples Garden鈥檚 staff as well as children from the 黑马磁力 Summer Day Camp program.
Barb McKeown, branch manager at Envision Financial鈥檚 黑马磁力 City location, and Tara Bahnman, a personal account representative at the Willoughby branch, were among those who helped with the harvesting.
鈥淣ature鈥檚 Classroom provides local students with a great learning opportunity, while allowing them to give back to those in need in their community,鈥� McKeown said.
鈥淭his ties in with our organization鈥檚 commitment to make a meaningful difference in our local communities and to promote lifelong learning and greater environmental awareness,鈥� she said.
鈥淭his is an amazing and important local program,鈥� added Stephanie Captein, agriculture program co-ordinator with LEPS.
鈥淣ot only is this a chance for students to learn in a hands-on way about the environment, but also about supporting their communities as the food grown is donated to the 黑马磁力 Food Bank.鈥�
