Peppers, parsley, and tomatoes are typical pizza ingredients, so Papa Johns employees felt right at home. On August 25, dozens of volunteers groomed the gardens of three Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) locations: John H. Harland, Warren and Chamblee Boys & Girls Clubs.
At each BGCMA garden, members learn plant biology as they grow fruits and vegetables. Tending a garden encourages healthy lifestyles. Club kids & teens also gain characteristics such as commitment.
HARLAND
At Harland, volunteers cleared and refreshed six raised garden beds and planted seasonal vegetables and flowers. Flowers and fresh mulch were also added to the front entrance. In the courtyard, six picnic tables were assembled for seating, eating and outdoor play.
“I started off as a teacher and principal in this neighborhood and worked in this community for many years with beautiful and talented kids supported by a rich community. As you help beautify our outdoor spaces, know that you’re not just throwing dirt around. You’re reinforcing our three core areas: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character & leadership,” BGCMA President/CEO David Jernigan told the group of volunteers.
Jernigan explained how gardening reinforces academic success through the myriad of underlining science lessons; healthy lifestyles is reinforced by allowing kids to get active and eat healthy home-grown fruits and vegetables; and character & leadership is built through skills kids & teens utilize and obtain while maintaining the garden.
Even Papa Johns President/CEO Rob Lynch got his hands dirty.
“At Papa Johns, we have five core values: everyone belongs, do the right thing, people first, innovate to win, and have fun,” said Lynch, who has served as CEO for about two years and has called Atlanta home for almost 8 years. “We share those same commitments to instilling core values in kids. We believe in taking care of our people and our community.”
Lynch says he first learned about Boys & Girls Clubs while attending our annual Youth of the Year award ceremony, where he witnessed YOY teens express the impact of BGCMA on their lives.
WARREN
At the Warren Club, volunteers refreshed the Club entrance, football stadium, garden beds and playground. They gave a fresh coat of paint to the hop scotch games on the concrete, potted flowers at the front doors, and removed weeds and shrubbery.
Papa Johns employee and former Club kid William Myers says he decided to volunteer because he understands the impact Boys & Girls Clubs have on the community.
“Our future begins with our kids, and I was happy knowing there was something I could do to help get the Clubs ready for the kids because a lot of needs for children in Atlanta are met at the Boys & Girls Club,” said Myers, who credits his grandmother for registering him for the Boys & Girls Club to keep him focused and productive during after school hours.
CHAMBLEE
At the Chamblee garden, volunteers revitalized the space by pulling up the weeds and planting new herbs, fruit and vegetables. Another group of volunteers spent their day in the gym organizing the storage closets and equipment for Club staff and members.
“Everything that the Papa Johns team did today will go a long way,” said LaSonya Hendrix, executive director of the Chamblee Boys & Girls Club. “Even something as small as cleaning out a storage room for us. This act goes a long way because it helps with our safety and the overall programming. It affords us the ability to go into the room to get what you need for the kids in a timely manner.”
When Clubs opened later that afternoon, kids & teens were welcomed with a Papa Johns Day of Service Pizza Party. Their smiles were priceless.
Volunteers proved Papa Johns is not just a pizza place. It’s a people place.
#PJDayofService
