More than 30 volunteers involved in the Summer Program to Fight Hunger and Climate Change were recognized in a ceremony Saturday at the Helen Keller National Center in Sands Point.
The Summer Program, now in its third year, is a collaboration between ReWild Long Island and Plant A Row for the Hungry, Port Washington. It is aimed at high school students and adult volunteers to help support local biodiversity, promote climate resilience and fight food insecurity.
Volunteers shared their remarks with those in attendance during a warm, gentle Saturday morning.
“In our world today, everything is in the palm of our hands. We expect things to happen instantly,” said Tarah Parmar, a student mentor. “However, unlike video games or social media, things that are worthwhile do not happen instantly. Nurturing plants and watching what once was a seed turned into something edible to me and my peers is a valuable lesson. With hard work and patience, you can create something beautiful.”
The volunteers learned how to plant, produce, preserve and harvest vegetables, flowers and herbs sustainably. They also learned about organic farming, composting, native flora and invasive species.
They sent their produce to the Bayles Garden Center and later to Our Lady of Fatima’s Food Pantry. Students also received a $300 stipend for 60 volunteer hours.
“Everyone in the program shares the same goals: to look after the plants, look out for the community and provide for someone who needs it,” volunteer Dennis Sim said alongside his son, Nate. “That’s truly the main takeaway.”
The volunteers conducted their work across the North Shore. Sites included the Sands Point Preserve, Science Museum of Long Island, Sands-Willet House, United Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock, Adult Activity Center, Helen Keller National Center and ReWild Garden at the Dodge Homestead.
“Just imagine the smell of fresh air, the feeling of the leaves, the sight of birds flying and the sound of shovels — what a wonderful thing,” said intern Hasana Sayeed. “That’s what ReWild brought to me every day.”
Program organizers, like Raju Rajan, president of ReWild, said the work done both benefits others and the volunteers themselves. While there are advantages to doing sustainable development and charitable work, Rajan added that volunteering can birth a new passion for participants.
“It’s one thing to say ‘Alright, dig a hole,'” he said. “It’s another thing to say ‘Hey, if somebody is going to dig a hole, I have to bring a shovel.’ They have to know this — they get that organizing mentality of ‘How do I bring this together?’ For me, that’s the next level.”
Although the program is over, group leaders are already planning for the next one. By February or March, after assembling the next set of student mentors, work will begin for the Summer Program. Those student mentors will comprise previous interns, forming a cycle.
“That’s ultimate. Because now they are crusaders of working for the environment and for sustainability for the next 40-50 years,” said Rajan. “It’s those nudges that we as a community can give them and really move them. That’s the biggest difference we make to the students.”
Both Plant a Row and ReWild have websites where one can sign up to volunteer.