At Lakewood High School, just as there are clubs and classrooms for students to learn, there are also volunteer and service opportunities. Help To Others (H2O) is a service club that organizes different community service programs. Students are always welcome to decide on which service opportunities they will participate in.
Recently, on September 10, H2O hosted a new community service event at Madison Park Gardens, where students gathered after school to work on harvesting produce for the food pantry and weeding.
The afternoon began with a group of high school students gathered in the garden, holding gloves and scissors in their hands. Some focused on pulling weeds, while others collected vegetables such as tomatoes and beans.
“I did this last year. It was pretty fun, but we did the planting part last year,” said Averi Johnson, one of the volunteers. “It feels good to help the community and keep helping people who aren’t as fortunate as others.”
When asked why she thinks it’s important for students to spend their time working in the garden, Johnson said, “I think they should spend their time working in the garden so they learn to care for a garden while promoting environmental sustainability, and because I think everyone cares about each other and we want the community to thrive and grow.”
For many students who do not have access to a garden or yard at home, this project provides an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the gardening process. Working in the soil, identifying plants, and understanding how food is grown gave the volunteers a new perspective on the work involved in producing the food they eat every day.
H2O’s main goals for The Leaf & Pollinator Project are “to have a garden for youth to have gardening experience and to have the produce to donate to the food pantry and the pollinator to draw pollinators to benefit the gardens,” said Amy Chodzin, one of the H2O coordinators. “We have been able to donate hundreds and hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to the food pantry in Lakewood for people who might not have access to it.” By donating fresh produce and supporting the pollinator garden, this project helps both the community and the environment.
The importance of fresh produce donations was reinforced by Sharon Hogan, one of the gardeners who joined students at Madison Park. “I don’t deliver them, but I have dropped them off with volunteers,” Hogan said. “When they see fresh vegetables, they smile, and they know that people are going to be happy to get fresh vegetables. And especially at greens, they get very excited about greens.”
Hogan also noted how the Leaf & Pollinator project goes beyond the food itself. “It provides fresh vegetables for the Lakewood City Service Center and other food pantries, and it allows H2O kids to know about community gardens and the need for food in our community.”
When asked to sum up the value of the project in a single thought, Hogan’s response was clear: “Community, because we have kids learning, a community garden that is a resource for community people, food, and education for the community. It’s all about interconnecting different community organizations and needs.” It is about building community, gaining knowledge, and providing service that can continue on in the future.
This program has been in existence for many years, providing students with the opportunity to choose and contribute to their community through various projects. In the past, students have delivered groceries to the elderly, provided childcare during PTA meetings, and participated in many more initiatives. By giving students the freedom to choose, H2O makes service accessible to anyone.
The Madison Park Gardens project shows how small actions, such as pulling weeds or harvesting vegetables, can affect many in the community. For students, it is a lesson in collaboration, hard work, and responsibility. Many students enjoyed working outside on a late summer day. For the community, it serves as a reminder that young people are eager to step up and help.
Whether through gardening or countless other activities, H2O continues to connect Lakewood students and families with meaningful ways to serve.
