BOCA RATON, FL, Friday, February 1, 2008 – Little gardeners at Whispering Pines Elementary School are helping make a big difference in the community. On January 11th the students of the Whispering Pines Elementary Garden Club picked their lovingly grown crops of tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and yellow squash plants and donated them to Boca Helping Hands, a local charitable organization that serves hot meals and provides pantry bags to the working poor and homeless. The Whispering Pines Garden Club students were thrilled to see their garden grow and prosper in an effort to help feed those in need.

In October 2007, under the guidance of Joanne Guise of the Boca Raton Garden Club and Whispering Pines Garden Club Sponsor BJ Saul, the students purchased vegetable and herb plants that were placed in the ground of the Whispering Pines 9-11 Memorial Friendship and Tolerance Garden. For the past few months the students watched with wonder as the plants grew larger each day.

"When the Whispering Pines Garden Club students planted the vegetables and herbs in the fall they were excited to help those in need at Boca Helping Hands,” stated BJ Saul. “However, the plants were so small that they had no idea how they were going to grow and produce food. At each club meeting they would watch them grow. They were so excited to see tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and other vegetables actually growing on the plants. Picking the food from the plants was so much fun for them that they went wild with excitement, picking as fast and as much as they could. Everyone had such a great time and felt good that they were able to help others in the community."

Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands Linda Gove was thrilled to share in the happiness each child experienced through their hard work and dedication. “We feel so blessed and proud of these children for their act of compassion toward those less fortunate. These gardens are educating the children to become caring and responsible leaders and teaching them how important it is to give back to their community,” said Ms. Gove.

This is the third year the Garden Club has donated their crop to Boca Helping Hands. Last year the children donated more than 15 different types of fruits and vegetables in such abundance that they filled the entire back of a volunteer’s car.

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