Volunteers Plant Memory Garden for Hopewell Student

Home Depot volunteers surprised Hopewell Elementary School last week with a Habitat Makeover in memory of student Caitlin Dickey, who lost her battle to cancer last month.

Caitlin was in fourth grade. Her brother Jakob attends first grade there.

The Dickey family has a long relationship with Home Depot and their Saturday kids' workshops. Both Caitlin and Jakob attended workshops for many years.

"This is something we had to do to pay tribute to Caitlin and to do something special for Jakob and his classmates," Sarah Gappa, who spearheaded the project for Home Depot, said in a release.

Gappa, store manager Matt Parkes and 25-plus volunteers were on hand to plant flowers, weed and mulch to give the habitat a fresh new look. Home Depot donated a Butterfly Bench in Caitlin’s honor, as well as the plants, stepping stones, mulch and materials for the makeover.  

Jakob's first-grade teacher, Heather Freed, and Hopewell staff member Jamie O’Donnell (who also works at the Lehigh Street Home Depot) had developed the plan with “Team Depot” and their ideas "literally blossomed" into Freed’s students working side by side with the “Team Depot” volunteers. 

Last week, the Hopewell faculty, Home Depot volunteers and the Dickey Family met in the newly made-over habitat to dedicate the bench in Caitlin’s honor.  

Principal Lori Limpar said in a release, “Home Depot’s gesture has warmed our hearts today. We are overwhelmed with gratitude regarding Home Depot’s generosity. Caitlin has left a lasting impression on so many people and this is a beautiful tribute to her life. She would love our new gardens."

This release is from Hopewell Elementary School principal Lori Limpar.