Friday April 12, employees from GE Unison, United Way of Northeast Florida and Hubbard House planted a PEACE Garden at Andrew Robinson Elementary School. The purpose of the PEACE garden is to encourage the students to work together and learn healthy ways of communicating.
While the kids were in school the volunteers put in a diamond shaped garden complete with benches, a tree in the center of the garden, and flowers and smaller plants which are easy for the kids to maintain. The idea for the garden came from the Community Action Team for the W.A.V.E. (Working Against Violence Every day) program, which is a primary prevention initiative of Hubbard House. “We hope to put in more gardens in the neighborhoods we are working with in our violence prevention based programs,” said Laine Reinecke-Clayton, Hubbard House Community Education Manager. “These gardens will provide the opportunity to promote peace in our community and reduce the incidence of violence which devastates families and neighborhoods in our area.”
The W.A.V.E. program administers a violence prevention curriculum to local students in the 3rd through 5th grade. This program aims to provide them with skills and tools to navigate relationships with their peers, families and community. The program teaches youth healthy relationship skills before abuse occurs, how to identify and prevent bullying and helps them gain a better understanding of how violence affects their lives.
According to GE Unison Human Resources manager Tiffany Patrick the idea for this project had been in the works for about two years. A recent corporate grant from GE allowed the collaborative effort of the three organizations to come together and move forward with the PEACE garden.
“This opportunity is important because it gives us a chance to give back to our community,” said Jason Swinny, Plant Manager at GE Unison.
Pictures from the PEACE garden project are available on our Facebook page.
To learn more about Hubbard House programs and services visit www.hubbardhouse.org.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.
ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE
Founded in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 5,000 women, children and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic child care, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit http://www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.
By Hannah Johnson