At Harrison Elementary School, philanthropy was grown this year with pumpkins, corn and sunflowers.
The lesson of charity being learned by Harrison students all started with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services.
KEYS is the youth philanthropy program of the Foundation. Made up of 20 students, KEYS students represent grades 8 to 12 from four school corporations in Kosciusko County: Lakeland Christian Academy, Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee.The mission of KEYS is "to work together to positively impact and improve education in our community by providing aid, now and for future generations."
According to Harrison fourth-grade teacher Judy Kinsey, last year members of the KEYS board wanted to give money to children. The foundation agreed it was a good idea if KEYS could teach the children about philanthropy. KEYS members agreed they would, and Harrison Elementary fourth grade was selected.
During the 2008-09 school year, KEYS members spent time with Harrison fourth-grade students, teaching them about the various aspects of giving. When they were finished, KEYS gifted the four fourth-grade classrooms with $100 each to do with whatever they chose. Kinsey said the students had no problem in coming up with organizations to assist.
Harrison's fourth-grade teachers wanted to know if the students could make the money grow. Fourth-graders took up the challenge, and all four fourth-grade classrooms combined their money. For Mother's Day, they had a plant and flower sale in May. From that event, the students doubled their money.
As the school year drew to a close, the fourth-graders decided to teach the third-graders about philanthropy. The students came up with the idea of a pumpkin patch to raise money for area charities, Kinsey said.
During the summer, Harrison students worked hard in the garden. They transplanted trees to make room for the half-acre garden. They planted pumpkin, corn and sunflower seeds and did a lot of weeding.
"The children got to see it from day one," said Kinsey.
She said no one at Harrison had really done a garden quite like it before, so they sought advice and help.
Gary Bailey did the plowing. Bob and Waneta Bishop, Keith Cook and Darci Zolman all offered advice. Donations were given by Drs. Erich and Jennifer Griffith, Dr. Tony and Mary Etienne and Mike Kinsey. Working on and in the garden were this year's fourth- and fifth-graders, their families and fourth-grade teachers Susy Ramsey, Cindy Nash, Rick Glass and Judy Kinsey.
When the corn was ready, the school had a sweet corn boil with the corn that was harvested. It fed 240 students in grades four and five, Kinsey said. As school started up, she said Harrison had a chance to revisit charity and philanthropy. Students decided if there was sweet corn left from the boil, they would donate it to a local food pantry.
"Now we're ready to harvest. We're learning about harvesting, marketing. We're learning so much, us as well as (the children)," Kinsey said.
The pumpkins are being sold to raise money for a charity to be determined. They are being sold today, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Harrison. Pumpkins range in price from $2 to $10, depending on size, while supplies last.
Once all the pumpkins are sold, Kinsey said, fourth-graders will determine what charities to give the money to and if they want to sustain the project.
"Kids work hard, and they want to work," said Kinsey.
One previous afternoon, she said, KEYS members dropped in at Harrison to see the garden.
"They were wowed," Kinsey said. "They couldn't believe it."
Harrison Assistant Principal David Robertson said the project has been neat to see. The children have learned so many vital lessons from the project.
He also praised the teachers and staff of Harrison. They put a lot of their own time and energy in it so the students could do the project.
"We're really blessed," he said.
"It was really hard, sitting out in the hot sun every day," said fifth-grader Aubrey Doyle. But, she said, it was worth it. "We're earning money for a cause and we're giving them money when we're done."
Fourth-grader Sydney Huff said, "I'm learning a lot of hard work goes a long way." She said it's been fun because "all the money goes to different charities. It feels good to do that."
Heidi Ziebarth, fifth-grader, said, "We hoed and just did the regular things. We planted and did everything by hand. It feels good because we're helping a good cause. I learned about philanthropy and giving of our time, talent and treasure."
She said the garden should continue to go on because "it helps the kids at Harrison get ready for the future so they know what hard work is and what they can do to help the community."
