Garden for Health Connects Girls Scouts to Local Senior Living Community

Girl Scout Sarah Kucia of Troop # 3347 in Alpharetta reached out to Charter Senior Living of Alpharetta in pursuit of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. This is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Sarah proposed building and planting two raised garden beds for Charter of Alpharetta residents. She met with Community Relations Director Paula Haynes and Executive Director Jeannette Rodgers to explain how they wanted to add to the well-being of the residents by building this "Garden for Health."

Sarah and her team met with residents and staff at Charter Senior Living of Alpharetta on April 22 with materials that were donated by local sponsors. The building of the two garden beds was completed by the Girl Scout troop that day.

On April 29, 2017 from 1-5pm Sarah, fellow Cambridge High School friends, mother, father, family members and residents filled the backyard and planted flowers, cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes and herbs. The event brought such joy as residents, staff and family were prepared for a sunny day with garden hats. Chef T prepared a delicious lunch and plenty of cold drinks for everyone.

Sarah plans to return to help residents ensure those vegetables and herbs grow along with the relationships that were planted that day. Sarah and her mom Diane shared that they learned valuable gardening lessons from several of Charter Alpharetta's residents. Adhering to the advice of Charter's residents, the team planted marigolds around the perimeter of the garden beds to keep insects away. They also used different types of dirt for maximum growth.

Charter Senior Living of Alpharetta shared that Sarah, her friends and parents have become part of the Charter family.

More than just a Garden for Health,

this was the building of a new friendship

that will flourish through time!