The United Way sent in these photos and this write-up.
On Saturday, May 16, 2015, United Way volunteers from organizations like the New Haven Police Academy and the Railroad Union, Local 747 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), volunteered their time and muscle to build a community garden at New Horizons School, an alternative high school that is part of New Haven Public Schools. “Local 747 feels giving back to the community is a great way to show how we care about where we live and work, also to help build a relationship with the community,” said Chris Castelli, IBEW 747’s financial secretary.
Over the past few weeks New Horizons School has been working with the United Way and an assortment of community partners to transform an unused side lot into a vibrant garden and outdoor oasis for students. Newly constructed raised beds will hold a vegetable garden that will supplement school lunches and provide fresh fruits and veggies for students to take home. Picnic tables will provide an outdoor space for students to eat lunch and hold class when the weather’s nice. And the new space will provide a real-life, hands-on learning opportunity for students.
“We at New Horizons are overwhelmed with the response and support from United Way for our Garden Project as well as the students we serve,” said Maureen Bransfield, the principal of New Horizons School. “It is our hope that the garden becomes a refuge: a place of mindfulness, joy, space for growth, reflection and gathering, not only for New Horizons but for the community at large.”
The project, which was spearheaded by math teacher Ofer Holtz with assistance from United Way’s Boost! Service Corps Member Brittany Groat, is geared toward increasing awareness, availability, and accessibility to healthy, locally grown food. The once vacant, overgrown lot is now an active outdoor space that also includes some new trees, courtesy of the Urban Resources Initiative. New Horizons is located on Sargent Drive in the city’s Hill neighborhood.
We are doing GREAT things in the Hill! Thank you to all who care and volunteer!!!!