Students at Park Avenue Elementary School are learning lessons in gardening and community service by harvesting fresh asparagus from the school’s garden and donating it to families in need through the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard.
For the past two months, students have helped harvest asparagus grown in the school garden before it is delivered to the cupboard ahead of its biweekly food distribution days.
“We’ve been really staying on top of picking the asparagus,” said Patricia Assande, a first-grade teacher and one of the school’s garden managers. “As we were picking so much of it, I started thinking about who could we be giving this to.”
Assande, who has taught at Park Avenue for 24 years and recently took over management of the garden alongside Alexa Laskowitz, said the school contacted the Community Cupboard to see if it would accept fresh produce donations.
“When the elementary school’s garden started producing and they wanted to give us some, we were thrilled,” said Karin McMahon, a Bellmore-Merrick teacher and one of the cupboard’s founders. “Our people are so grateful for any fresh produce and things that we get.”
Since then, the school has delivered about eight to 10 bundles of asparagus harvested by students and recently began donating fresh chives.
According to Assande and McMahon, families have been quick to take the vegetables and express appreciation.
“They were saying how expensive groceries are and how fresh produce is very expensive,” Assande said. “The asparagus is going quickly. People get it right away when they see it.”
McMahon said fresh produce is among the most requested items at the cupboard.
“If we don’t have it one week, they’re like, ‘We’d like fresh produce,’” she said. “So when the elementary school wanted to share what they were growing, it was really exciting.”
The donations have reinforced the educational mission of the school’s garden, which was established in 2011. Every grade level participates by planting and harvesting crops throughout the year, including lettuce, spinach, sugar snap peas, string beans and potatoes.
Third-grade students have led the asparagus harvest this spring, while younger students help plant and maintain other sections of the garden.
Assande said students have embraced the opportunity to help local families.
“I think they’re surprised,” she said. “But they’re also feeling proud that they’re doing this work and helping others.”
McMahon said introducing children to community service at a young age can create lasting habits.
“We like to get the younger kids involved in community service early so they continue it through not only high school, but into college and adulthood,” she said.
The Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard was founded by McMahon and three fellow educators after they recognized a growing need to address food insecurity in the community. The organization operates entirely through donations from individuals, businesses and community groups.
“We saw a need,” McMahon said. “A lot of people were kind of like, ‘It’s Bellmore-Merrick, there’s no need,’ but we were seeing it.”
Donations can be dropped off at the Brookside Building, 1250 Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick.
