FUN CAN BLOOM
Kids plant flowers in Troy
TROY, N.Y. » TROY, N.Y.>> Children of the Troy Youth Association (CYO) afterschool program started their summer off by planting flowers outside the organization’s facility.
Passersby may notice the new flower bed outside the CYO’s 237 Fourth St. building, a project completed by the four- to 12-year olds in the association’s after-school childcare program.
The kids helped with hauling supplies, filling the flowerbed with dirt, then finally planting the flowers in their new home.
“They were very excited,” explained Troy Youth Association head counselor Jill Katchmar.
“The kids like anything that is outdoors, but they were excited to be able to be planting,” she continued, adding that some kids had never planted a garden before. “This was a pretty big thing for them — anything involving dirt, I think, is an exciting day for kids.”
A community effort, local businesses and organizations like 2 Sets of Hands Cleaning Service, Brunswick Esthetics, Brasi Media, Lewis Lawn Care & Masonry, Hewitt’s Garden Center, Bickford Landscaping, The Aurora Foundation, Corey Jamison Consulting and XperienceU Training and Leadership Development helped supply the program with materials for the project.
“I really wanted to do something fun and hands on with the kids at the center,” said Domenica Hotte, who initiated the project. “Ray [Piscitelli, executive director] and the Catholic Youth Organization do so much for the kids in the community and I felt like this was a small way of giving back and
at the same time beautifying downtown Troy.”
In the future, Troy Youth Association plans to use the new flower bed each year, and possibly even add another one.
More information about Troy Youth Association and its programs is available online at www. leaguelineup.com/welcome. asp?url=troycyoyouth or by calling the center at (518) 274-2630.