MARBLEHEAD — For the first time on Wednesday, three community organizations across the North Shore came together to give back to the community through food donations.
Preschoolers from the Jewish Community Center for the North Shore harvested radish, lettuce, and spinach from the garden at Temple Sinai in Marblehead, and planted pumpkin, watermelon, and butternut squash set to be harvested in September.
“We want the kids to learn about giving and caring towards others, because there are kids who aren’t as fortunate,” said Director of Early Childhood Education for JCCNS Stephanie Walsh.
JCCNS partnered with SPUR, a Marblehead-based nonprofit that connects people with ways to make a tangible, positive impact through volunteering, and Temple Sinai, a contemporary conservative synagogue, to create the garden.
Barbara Rosenstroch, the chair of Temple Sinai’s Social Action Committee said this is the first growing season for the SPUR Community Roots Garden, which produces over 1,000 pounds of fresh produce annually for local food pantries.
With the new garden at Temple Sinai, the goal is to help supplement more produce and engage the community’s youngest volunteers.
Rosenstroch said she was excited that the kids are happy and that this planting will also be an educational opportunity.
The preschool students of JCCNS will be learning about plant life cycles and their seedling plantings will be incorporated into their classroom curriculum. Local food pantries and homeless shelters will be expecting fresh produce, and volunteers will be needed to deliver it locally.
“It’s nice that everyone can come, participate, and volunteer within the local community to give back to those who are in need,” said Rosenstroch.
Magella Cantara can be reached at [email protected].
