Shine ABQ Facilitates Church-School Partnership

Historically, Shine introduced EHBC to Kennedy MS near the beginning of the pandemic when they needed supplies like food and water.  Since then, a garden ministry has grown at Kennedy MS with a call for more volunteers.  EHBC financially supports a staff breakfast in Aug, a teacher appreciation lunch in May, a Community School meeting breakfast, and gift cards for student motivation.  A volunteer from EHBC supervises the garden three days a week during lunch periods (1030-1230) for about a dozen students each lunch period.  A greenhouse was added in a second courtyard with a grant from the APS Foundation.  The grant specifies monthly workshops and produce metrics.  Volunteers interact with students and families at special events such as concerts.  Volunteers interact with teachers on a daily basis at the school.  Albuquerque Master Gardeners provide additional volunteers for garden activities.  Plant materials are donated by the City Greenhouse.  Shine provides mandatory training for EHBC volunteers.  Volunteers typically get to know students for three years as they move through 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  Volunteers require an APS badge which can be subsidized.  https://www.aps.edu/community/volunteer-with-aps  EHBC is also a Community School partner with Kennedy MS.  https://www.aps.edu/title-i/community-schools  Kennedy MS has a Community School Coordinator on staff.  The school garden is closed when the volunteer is out of town or otherwise unavailable.