Woodward Children’s Center gets a facelift

All hands were on deck to help landscape the front of the Woodward Children’s Center in Freeport on Saturday. Woodward staff and students, along with members of Friends of Freeport and staff members from 1-800-Flowers Summer Smiles Program, spent the morning planting flowers and plants along the walkway and front yard of the school’s building.

First, the volunteers had to clear away some trees and prep the ground for the flowers and plants that were donated by 1-800-Flowers. “We like to give back to the community,” Daisy Chin, 1-800-Flowers Summer Smiles program spokeswoman, said. The flowers are grown at the company’s facility called Smile Farm and then donated to a variety of community organizations. This year flowers were donated to the Woodward School.

“We needed a facelift,” Greg Ingino, director of the Woodward School, said. Ingino reached out to Lois Howes, president of Friends of Freeport, for some help. “We know about all the work Friends of Freeport does in the community and thought they might be able to help us,” Ingino said.

“Of course we agreed to help out,” Howes added. Friends of Freeport contacted Chin. “It worked,” Howes said. “This is what we do and we’re happy to be here.”

After all the hard work, the volunteers were treated to a free lunch, compliments of Ivan Sayles of Rachel’s Waterside Grill in Freeport.

The Woodward Children’s Center provides special education services and support for children and their families challenged by social emotional and behavioral disorders.