Rain and snow didn’t stop us from kicking off our 21st build season with volunteers from The Opus Group on April 20th to commemorate their Founders Day! With the support of The Opus Group, we were able to provide much-needed repairs to the homes of two low-income homeowners and establish a Garden Classroom and Learning area at the Maplewood Middle School.
We helped Mary Anne in Saint Paul, a grandmother who is currently providing housing for her daughter and five grandchildren. Mary Anne’s garage roof was damaged by storms and has been cited by the City for repair. We stripped the old shingles off of the garage and replaced them.
We also helped Diana, a senior veteran who lives with a disability in Minneapolis. We replaced all of the windows in the home with energy-efficient windows.
Finally, we established a Garden Classroom and Learning Area at the Maplewood Middle School, which is economically and racially-diverse with 53% of the school identifying as non-white and 63% of the students receiving free or reduced lunch. In addition, 13% of the students receive some type of special education. The school had space to establish a garden classroom that will provide hands-on learning opportunities to accompany their science curriculum. We landscaped, made improvements to the outdoor amphitheater, and created an open-air classroom.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Opus Group and the hard work of their volunteers! Together, we have made a meaningful difference for two homeowners in need and the students who attend Maplewood Middle School!
