Children’s Coalition Inaugural Super Saturday and Garden Dedication

June 16th marked the Inaugural Super Saturday and grand opening of the Children Coalition’s family centered garden. 2018 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Children’s Coalition, and Director Lynn Clark, staff members and board of trustees members were on hand to welcome families and volunteers into the hands-on gardening and play experience located beside the new Children’s Coalition offices in downtown Monroe. LSU Ag, Master Gardeners, the Urban Garden Project, Grace Episcopal School and Tensas Parish 4-H members were on hand to help families plant summer heat loving vegetables like squash, cucumbers and okra in raised beds. Chef Cory Bahr donated a grove of fruit trees, and RoeLa Roasters was on hand with iced coffee for guests. Guy Campbell spoke on behalf of the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, which gave $40,000 for the garden’s implementation. Aetna was honored as a Super Saturday sponsor, and Clark announced The Monroe Garden Study League’s pollinator garden will be planted and dedicated in July. The purpose of the garden is to bring the farm to the table of Headstart children as well as being a family resource. Children gathered around a “bubbling” rock, which provided a cool spot for little ones to dig in the sand.