All Saints’ Episcopal School PART Thrivent Action Team To Kick Off Thier “Grow Learning, Grow Giving” Project To Expand “God’s Bounty Garden” Community Impact

Thrivent Financial member Louise Dyer and All Saints’ Episcopal School are joining together to form a Thrivent Action Team focused on service and education through their “Grow Learning, Grow Giving” Community Impact Project. Thrivent Action Teams are led by Thrivent members who identify and want to meet an immediate community need. Mrs. Dyer is leading the volunteer team of students, faculty, and volunteers in All Saints’ “God’s Bounty Garden” to make a larger impact on the learning and giving opportunities in Morristown. As a partner, All Saints’ received $250 credit card to support all needs affiliated with prepping and planting needs for the spring and summer growing season. Such gifts are needed to maximize the harvest (and giving opportunities) of fresh produce to Daily Bread, the local community kitchen serving those in need. “God’s Bounty Garden” has a history of donating their harvest to Daily Bread since the gardens inception over a decade ago.

Mrs. Dyer, a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, has been quietly gifting $250 “seed money” to numerous organizations over the years. She was introduced to “God’s Bounty Garden” when the school featured their garden as a tablescape at the 2016 “Celebration of Tables”. She felt a calling on her heart to reach out and learn about the history and impact of the garden. And from that chance meeting birthed the “Grow Learning, Grow Giving” project. “Mrs. Dyer has an incredible insight on how such a partnership will nurture the minds of our students and nurture the bodies of those in need in our community,” states Susie Justice, first grade instructor and Garden Team Coordinator.

Farming and agriculture are extremely important to the heritage in the Lakeway community. Students can experience firsthand where the produce they see in grocery stores and farmers markets originated. Past crops included all leafy greens, broccoli, onions, beets, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, popcorn, potatoes, blueberries, and a variety of fruit from the orchard.

 God’s Bounty Garden has given a multitude of fresh produce to Daily Bread over the years – providing an opportunity for students to learn the importance of giving back to the community. One of ASES Core Values is Service. They have supported needs in the community through food collection for Daily Bread and Food on Foot, and “God’s Bounty Garden” gives students pride in knowing that, first, they grew what they are giving and secondly, what they are giving is healthy food for their community. “God’s Bounty Garden truly is an Outdoor Classroom,” says Mark L. Workman, Head of School. “Students have a practical understanding of science, math, social studies, language arts, even physical education. Also rewarding is to watch the older students mentor the younger children on watering and harvesting – the sense of ownership and partnership these students experience is invaluable.” Each grade, including Early Learning Center, adopts a single crop of choice to plant, nurture, and harvest in their raised bed.

The Thrivent Action Team kicked off their project with a schoolwide celebration featuring the credit card gift presentation, a blessing of the garden and project by Father Mark Holland of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, and refreshments in garden.

To learn more about Thrivent Action Teams, visit thrivent.com/actionteams or about “God’s Bounty Garden” and Outdoor Classroom and how your child can become a part of the educational experience at All Saints’ Episcopal School, visit www.asestn.org or call at 423-586-3280.