Opportunity House celebrated the opening of a new playscape that provides children of the Second Street Learning Center with a safe space to play, explore and learn.
The plastic-free green space is designed to promote science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, learning, said Holly Wolf, director of marketing for the emergency shelter, 430 N. Second St.
It also meets the strict criteria established by the Keystone Stars Program, a state quality rating and improvement system for early-learning and development programs and school-age child care, she noted.
Wolf said the ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday marked the completion of a three-year project made possible by a collaborative effort of community organizations, businesses and government, including Voice Up Berks, Berks Nature, Penn State Berks engineering students, the city of Reading and ProMax Fence.
The event was held in conjunction with Opportunity House’s annual Garden Party, which showcases the shelter’s community vegetable plot.
Opportunity House clients are aided in planting, tending and harvesting the vegetables, herbs and fruits grown in the garden by volunteers from the Penn State Master Gardeners of Berks County and participants in the Berks County Treatment Court.
Volunteers and staff members enjoyed food from the garden, prepared and served by community volunteers, Wolf said.
This year, clients and their helpers grew broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, tomatillos, bell peppers, banana peppers, squash, herbs, lettuce, celery, radishes, watermelon and onions.
The harvested produce is used in the shelter’s kitchen.
Clients also learn gardening skills through the shelter’s Skills to Master Independent Living and Empowerment, or S.M.I.L.E., Program. The life-skills training program brings clients to the garden twice a week to learn gardening skills, foster teamwork and give them the confidence to grow gardens when they become stably housed, Wolf said.
In addition, clients learned how to preserve and pickle vegetables grown in the garden, she said, noting that jars of preserved vegetables decorated the tables at the event.
Source: Berkshire mont