Community Corner
Live Oak Elementary, Local Organizers Partner For Kids
The project will serve as a laboratory for children to learn about the natural world.
Santa Cruz County: Live Oak Elementary School students and staff are celebrating the upcoming opening of a new greenhouse to be built in the school's Life Lab.
A project comprised of contributions and volunteers from Kaiser Permanente, Devcon Construction, Habitat for Humanity, Supervisors John Leopold and many others, the project will serve as a laboratory for children to learn about the complexity and beauty of the natural world and help them become responsible stewards of the environment. "It’s exciting to see the community coming together to ensure that the students of Live Oak will receive good health and good education," Supervisor John Leopold said. “Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County is thrilled to donate and help build this new greenhouse at Live Oak Elementary School," said Sam Bajaj, Chief Operating Officer of Kaiser Permanente San Jose and the Santa Cruz Area. "Kaiser Permanente has long believed in the power of food as medicine. The students will be able to nurture young vegetables in the greenhouse and grow them in the school garden and come to appreciate the importance of good food leading to healthy living."
A community celebration honoring this effort will be held Saturday, September 28th, from 10 a.m.- noon at the Live Oak Elementary School, 1916 Capitola Road. Refreshments will be provided.
“We're excited to continue making contributions to the Live Oak community, building on the work we've done to provide housing to children and their families at Live Oak Elementary who will benefit from the new greenhouse,” said volunteer Ned Van Valkenburgh, a Board member of Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. "If you have the opportunity to participate in a Project that can stimulate the educational interest of grade school students, how can you pass that opportunity up?" said Doug Maher, Project Manager from Devcon. Project contributors include Duran & Venables, Siguenza and Sons Trucking, Joseph J. Albanese Inc., Triad Electric Inc. and Castro Plumbing Services.
