The Home Depot Foundation has generously donated new elevated grow boxes to Fritsch Elementary School to support the Carson City school’s Growth Garden initiative.
The foundation also reinforced existing planters, provided a pallet of potting soil, updated the drip line system and added bark to the surrounding area. This donation is part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to enriching communities and promoting environmental education.
Fritsch Elementary School’s Growth Garden serves as an outdoor learning space where students can engage in hands-on lessons about sustainability, plant biology and healthy eating. It is dedicated to carefully selected students to take part in creating a garden space and seeing growth at their own hands as well as growing within themselves.
“The Growth Garden at Fritsch not only allows children to learn the importance of growing their own food and the chance to eat what they grow, but it also will serve some students who have faced past or present traumas including loss, displacement or other negative life events,” said Nicole Sitton, school social worker at Fritsch. “Being a part of the Growth Garden will help students with coping skills while in a safe and therapeutic environment where they may be free to express themselves without judgment.”
With the addition of these elevated grow boxes, the garden will become more accessible to students of all ages and abilities, fostering inclusivity and enhancing the educational experience. The school also plans for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students to integrate with and experience additional subjects and curriculum.
The Home Depot Foundation’s donation aligns with its broader mission of giving back to local communities through initiatives that address affordable housing, skilled trades training, disaster response and environmental sustainability. Since its inception, the Foundation has invested millions in programs that make a positive impact across the nation.
