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By Ilene M. Hoffman
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
On October 13, a number of local officials, students, and Needham Community Farm volunteers gathered to honor seven Needham students for their exceptional service to the Needham Community. Each student received a 2016 Outstanding Youth Volunteer plaque and certificate.
Recipients of the award included Pollard Student Alejandro Gabrielle Celado, Needham High School Students Ketsia Bernard, Josie Dardinski, Austin Shaver and Duncan Shaver, and Needham High School graduates Michael Totten and Jeremy Wong. The students were chosen, according to Susan Shaver, President of the Needham Community Farm, because they have gone “above and beyond.”
State Representative Denise Garlick, Needham Housing Authority (NHA) Executive Director, Paul Dumouchel and Needham Community Farm President Susan Shaver officiated at the short award ceremony.
This is the first time student volunteers were honored for their participation in the Needham Community Farm (NCF). The students received a wooden plaque created at Needham High School and an impressive certificate from the Massachusetts House of Representatives signed by Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo and Denise Garlick.
In her thank-you message, Susan Shaver told the award recipients: “There’s a lot of ways you’ve distinguished yourself in terms of the work that you’ve done and how you’ve been picked … You show up–consistently with energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to take on any farm task. You work hard; in the rain, in the hot sun, and those awful New England damp days.”
Ms. Shaver also added “You take initiative and ask very good questions. You’ve served as leaders to other volunteers, certainly to some kids who are younger than you. And, you’re fantastic role models, and we really value that. So thank you for your service. Just know that your work helps the Needham Community Farm empower [and] educate.”
Denise Garlick used a meaningful gardening metaphor in her thank-you message. She said, in thinking about the garden, “we’re talking about a time that we plant, we talk about a time that we grow, and we talk about the time that we harvest.”
“The planting is the volunteer work you’ve done … All of that is setting the seeds … The growing was the actual work you’ve done … The harvest is for all of us, because the harvest is, you have each grown to be leaders through this project … I want you to know that your community, the Town of Needham, thanks you for your service.”
Newly appointed NHA Executive Director Paul Dumouchel, told the students, “You’ve done a really wonderful job and I just want to congratulate everybody here. It’s a pleasure to see the fruits of what you’ve done.”
One recipient, Michael Totten, was unable to attend the ceremony. Others in attendance were NHA Resident Services Coordinator Penny Kirk, Needham Community Council Executive Director, Sandra Robinson, District Director for Denise Garlick, Anne Weinstein, Liaison to the Needham Community Council and Housing Authority, Marjorie Dean, Needham Community Farm Board member, Jane Evans and NCF Community Outreach Coordinator, Jenn Landrein, plus a number of other NCF volunteers.
The Needham Community Farm’s (NCF) provides farm-based education with a mission to connect the Needham community to nature and the food system. Comprised of a part-time Farm Manager and Outreach Manager, it depends on volunteers for its Board of Directors and farmers. The food they grow is distributed to the Needham Community Council’s Food Pantry and the four Needham Housing Authority public housing sites. In addition to the main site on Pine Street, there are satellite gardens spread across the town, including Mitchell, Broadmeadow and Eliot Elementary Schools, plus Captain Robert Cook Drive and Seabeds Way public housing communities.
The Needham Public School students are required to perform 60 hours of community service throughout their high school years. A number of students perform their service requirements at the Needham Community Farm.
