Inspired by this year’s October #GetKind theme of environment, Random Acts Regional Representative Manager Nicole Kirby helped start a garden at a school for children with disabilities.
Hope Wood Academy in North East England is a school for children 2 to 19 years old with various educational needs. The school planned a project to teach their secondary school students (11 to 16 years old) about gardening and increase their appreciation for the environment. They started off with some large planter pots, but not much else.
One of Nicole’s friends posted on Facebook that the school was looking for donations for this initiative, which they called “Hope Wood in Bloom.” Nicole reached out to Hope Wood Academy and asked how she could help.
To help kickstart the project, Nicole donated durable gardening gloves, trowels, small pots, bulbs, and seeds. She purchased most of the seeds and supplies at local shops. But because of the need for social distancing during the current pandemic, she had to buy some supplies online.
Helping From a Distance
Also due to the pandemic, Nicole was unable to drop the gardening supplies off directly at the school. Instead, wearing masks and staying distanced, she handed them off to Helen Largan, one of Hope Wood’s teachers.
The school sent their thanks, and Nicole is excited to hear how the project goes. Despite the fact that she could not meet the students in person, she is really happy that she could help in any way possible.
“Schools are struggling all over to have these ‘extras,’ and it was nice to be able to contribute,” Nicole said. “It’s very tough times we’re living in, and knowing that I could help this school out — both teachers and pupils — felt really good!”
