Handymen Dig Into a Project at Hoover School

On Monday, nearly four dozen volunteers donated their time, talent, tools and materials to the Herbert Hoover greenhouse project in Schaumburg, Illinois. From five year olds to 95 year olds and every age between, the local community has embraced the brainchild of school principal Jake Chung, to teach children about creating a greenhouse and garden, growing healthy foods, preparing them and donating them to local food pantries. Chung solicited grants and initiated a partnership for this intergenerational program between the Hoover Elementary School students and seniors from Friendship Village.
At 7:30 a.m., Lowe’s began delivering the materials that were awarded to the school in a $3,500 grant from the retailer. Fencing material, top soil, concrete and beautiful vegetables and flowers were unloaded by Lowe’s sales manager, Matt Lowe, associate Harry Wahrer and Bozena Akmakjian, Lowe’s commercial sales associate and the person responsible for encouraging the grant application. Melissa Nevarez, Lowe’s human resource manager also dug into the project.
Construction began in earnest when volunteer contractors arrived. Among them were Chuck Vasquez from MCS, John F. Mydlach, Jerry Splitt from Lou-Bo’s Handyman Services, Inc., Bill Hooper and his team from B & R Handyworks Extraordinaire. They expertly set up their professional tools and began clearing the land adjacent to the greenhouse. The rain held off but the heat was grueling as they worked alongside able-bodied volunteers to dig post holes and clear the ground riddled with rock. Meanwhile, children, parents, teachers, seniors and staff from Friendship Village cleared weeds and pruned gardens nearby.
With the ground finally tilled using two rototillers and one post digger, the children and seniors began spreading the rich top soil and planting corn, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers and other tasty vegetables to harvest later this summer and fall.
With a brief lunch break of pizza and pop, donated by IVY Marketing Group, Friendship Village’s public relations company, the crews enthusiastically returned to their gardening and construction.
According to Chung, “Our next step is to begin building the interior of the greenhouse which will be done by Friendship Village volunteers as they mentor the students. Together they will grow plants hydroponically (without soil) and organically. We will use the fresh ingredients to teach the children how to properly prepare the food and will donate produce to the local food pantry.” Chung also confided that this program is only limited by the resources made available. Everyone involved hopes to bring many greenhouses to the Hoover Elementary campus as well as an example for other schools to follow.
Volunteers of the day include those mentioned along with: Friendship Village residents Shirley Odeegard, Bob Green, Ruby Hirakawa, Barbara Mueller, Dot and Joe Gondek, Walatraud Toonren, Tom Carroll and Friendship Village staff, Jeannette Magdeleno, Jeff Rose and Mike McCann. Teacher volunteers were Elize Koverman, Kathy Hellesen and Donna Wiskizchen. Student volunteers include Sam, Maura and Olivia Zimmerman with their mother Becky, Ileen and Matt Aberman, Katie Mueller, Danielle Ortz, Alouki Shah and other unnamed heroes of the day.

Check out the ongoing progress about this project in the article How Does Your Garden Grow?  on the home page of Among Friends.

See our photos on the AmongFriends.FriendshipVillage web album.

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