JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A nature center in Jacksonville received a donation to help with teaching students the importance of protecting the birds, the bees and trees.
Harvey's Supermarket donated $3,500 so Tree Hill can create a new pollinator garden.
More than a dozen grocery store workers rolled up their sleeves to help break ground for the garden, while taking care of the other areas that are a part of the Pollinator Project.
Throughout the nature center, they have several gardens in the Pollinator Project so people walking through the trails can see nature and sustainability efforts in action.
And without this donation, the executive director of Tree Hill says they wouldn't be able to afford it.
“It helps us has these projects that 10 to 15 thousand people will come through the center can see them and without it we wouldn't be able to do it,” said Mark Mummaw, Tree Hill Executive Director.
The tree hill nature center is more than just a walking trail. To Mark Mummaw, it's an outdoor classroom.
“They come into the garden, they may smell an herb, they might touch rosemary, they may see a bee feeding on a certain plant, stuff like that. It allows them to learn in a different way than when they're in the classroom,” Mummah said.
He says the mission of Tree Hill is to bring science textbooks to life.
Harvey's Supermarket's donation makes that happen, along with protecting bees who play a role in keeping their produce section stocked.
“You can't just expect to go to a supermarket and take or find everything you need if we're not taking care of the earth,” explained Harvey's Supermarket Manager Scott D'Addario.
Tree Hill plans to use the donation so they can create more gardens, saying they're cultivating an environment that allows plants, bees and other species to thrive.
“The pollinator gardens are an opportunity for them to learn about the food chain and where food comes and the important role that bees play in that,” D’Addario added.
Educating the next generation not only where their food comes from, but how they play a part in protecting the planet.