Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Windsor schools to transition to remote learning in March, the District has provided over 135,000 free meals. Some had special side dishes, thanks to helping hands at C.R. Weeks Elementary.

“As a vegetarian, I find satisfaction from getting many of my summer meals from my own backyard. Last spring, with permission from the district, I was able to have a few students help weed and plant vegetable seeds in the planters by the playground,” said Weeks school counselor Liz Sharkan.

That project turned into a garden that Mrs. Sharkan and Weeks students have used to grow vegetables to supplement the grab-and-go meals available semi-weekly at the school this summer. The garden also proved to be fertile ground for more than just produce. It sparked conversations, both philosophical and philanthropic.

“We used gardening as an opportunity to talk about optimism and making future goals. We didn't have a plan for summer and the vegetables at the time, but we talked about when we come back to school we can use the food to share with other students.,” said Mrs. Sharkan.

The grab-and-go meal program Weeks hosted proved to be a great way to get the produce into the hands of those who needed it.

“Over the summer I tried to go into Weeks once a week to check in on the vegetables and (Kitchen Manager) Miss Tina (McCaffery) has been fantastic at picking them and putting them out for families to grab when they are getting to-go meals,” said Mrs. Sharkan.  

The garden has allowed Mrs. Sharkan to look forward to more than just the students returning in September.

“The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen and there are two or three pumpkins I'm especially excited about,” said Mrs. Sharkan.