Alternative Spring Break (garden) parties
Kathleen Serino
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
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John Eby-Activities Program Manager from the Office of Student Life-co-advised this spring's community service event along with Kaizad Irani, Program Director for Horticulture in the Business and Agri-Industries. "[Irani] is really the lead on the design of it," Eby said on the aesthetic details of the sweep around the building.
The pair was not alone, however. Flanked by a small army of members from the landscape design program, Parkland's student government, the Muslim Student Association, Club Access, the Boys & Girls Club, and wheelbarrows full of gardening materials, the Alternative Spring Breakers sallied forth in their mission to plant and prune their way to success.
Tom Caulfield, Director of Student Life, also helped out with this activity. He solicited a number of area businesses, like Rental City and Champaign West Rotary, for sponsorship. According to Eby, plants, forthcoming brickwork materials, and other tools were donated for the project. Eby especially noted that Champaign West Rotary raised money during January for the project. MSA will also donate a portion of their proceeds from their 5K Run for Charity, as well.
Aside from being rained out over half of the time, the team managed to get quite a bit of work done one the last, sunniest day of their service for the facility. "We got out there and we dug in the dirt and we put plants in the ground and actually laid out the design and moved dirt, moved sand, moved mulch…all the good things!" Eby said.
"It was physically challenging but very fun," 18-year-old volunteer Stephanie Yousef said of the event. She did not mind sacrificing her time to help out the Boys & Girls Club and wishes they didn't get rained out. "Working with other people-that was really fun," she added.
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