Planting seeds of respect in Driftwood

Planting seeds of respect in Driftwood

1hWES_ChurchGardenPaint0605June 8, 2012 00:06:00Working to break the negative stereotypes of the Jane and Finch community, a local church and school teamed up to plant and paint garden boxes."My heart is overwhelmed at what we can do when we come together as a community," said Cecile Huxtable, co-ordinator of Reaching Up, both a homework club and music program that the church has offered since 2008.The idea to start the Driftwood Community Garden and grow vegetables and plants for sale came after a brainstorming session on how to raise funds for the Reaching Up program.Huxtable started forming partnerships with environmental organizations such as Live Green Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and Foodshare to learn how to grow a sustainable garden."It changed to a more educational initiative," she said.Then one of the homework club volunteers, who was also a teacher candidate doing her placement at the neighbouring Driftwood Community School, told Sheri Alcordo and her Grade 5 class about the community garden project."I'm just excited because the kids are seeing how they can give back," said Alcordo, noting her students are part of a model classroom for equity and inclusion for the Toronto District School Board. "They have a real appreciation for why their community is so important."In addition to helping plant the vegetables and decorating the rocks with such words as "Respect" and "Peace" painted on them, the students wrote to both Home Depot and York West Councillor Anthony Perruzza explaining why having a garden in their neighbourhood was important.Home Depot responded by providing supplies for the community garden. The councillor also stepped in providing city funds to build plant boxes in the church's backyard."These things don't magically happen," said Perruzza, who applauded the students for bringing everyone together to help make the garden grow. "They need a group of people that inspires them to come together and do something for the community."Grade 5 classmates Priscilla Asubonteng and Elizangela Kamalando enjoyed getting outside to plant the seeds of the community garden."I'm actually surprised we did all this," said Priscilla, who hoped others would see her community in a more positive light. "Once they've been here, they'll change their perspective."Elizangela agreed."We want to show there are many great things happening here," she said.http://www.insidetoronto.com/iphone/community/article/1370775--planting-seeds-of-respect-in-driftwood

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