The Anderson University group Enactus used a $2,000 grant from Lowe’s this month to upgrade a greenhouse at a local Montessori school. Food produced from the updated greenhouse will be donated to local food pantries.
The AU chapter of Enactus, an international service organization that trains college students to become business leaders, organized and staffed a workday April 6 at the Montessori School of Anderson. The service project was part of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation’s commitment to serving, educating, and empowering communities, according to a statement from AU Enactus.
“Volunteers organized the supplies stored in the greenhouse, installed two new fans for ventilation, and installed a wooden ramp to make the facility wheelchair accessible,” said AU Enactus member Parker McDonald, who helped lead the project.
The volunteers also used the workday to educate students about the greenhouse and its proper use. In addition to donating food, the Montessori School of Anderson plans to educate families in need in how to grow and harvest their own food.
Every year, Lowe’s works with 50 Enactus teams across the United States to develop service projects to improve the standard of living and quality of life for people in need. AU Enactus’ completion of this project qualifies the group for a possible $5,000 community service grant, McDonald said.