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Schools

'Lowes Heros' Exercise Their Green Thumbs at Meadowbrook School

Two overgrown courtyards in Eatontown are being transformed by hard work and funding from Lowes Home Improvements

The students at Meadowbrook School will soon have a lush garden to use for quiet reading time and a science garden complete with a new weather station, thanks to the folks at .  With the aid of a grant from the home improvement store combined with funds from the Lowes Heros community outreach program, the school is in the process of transforming their two courtyards into beautiful sanctuaries.

Work is underway on the first of the two courtyards, which includes an access door to the library.  "We are planning to make this space a quiet reading area dubbed the ABC Garden.  A place the children can enjoy during the nicer weather," said special education teacher Tara Micciulla.  The garden beds will have benches installed throughout the garden for the children to relax and read on.  "We have placed a special order for a greenhouse and will also be putting in a storage shed in one corner," said Lowes staff member Lore Lestingi, who was preparing one of the garden beds.  "We will also be including large pots full of flowers for color."

The second courtyard will be transformed into a Science Garden where the students will plant and grow vegetables and herbs.  There will be space made available for a weather station too.  "We want the students to learn to look after the plants.  We want them to feel like it belongs to them and be proud of what they grow," said Micciulla.  "We will focus on vegetables that will grow during the fall and spring while the students are in school.  During the summer, several teachers will take time to keep the garden clear of weeds and keep it going.

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The Lowes Heros program encourages employees to team together, adopt a volunteer project with a local nonprofit organization or K–12 public school and make a difference.  The school was fortunate to be able to combine a grant from Lowes for $4,600, with extra funding from the Heros program to complete the work on the courtyard.  The children at the school should be able to enjoy their new ABC Garden by the end of this month.

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