Girl’s garden to benefit food banks, Centennial Hills senior center

Goodwill is in bloom thanks to the efforts of a Centennial Hills middle schooler.

Sarah Richard , 11 , recently turned dirt on a community garden at the Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA , 6601 N. Buffalo Drive , thanks to funds from the city of Las Vegas' Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program .

The Hyde Park Middle School sixth-grader served as project lead, from seeking funds to delegating work on the eight raised plant beds and painted mural . The project received a large push of volunteer support April 28 , when about 40 people helped complete work.

Sarah received additional support from her mom, Stephanie Richard , and graphic artist Hector Jeter .

Sarah said she was inspired to create the community garden by similar projects that her mother completed.

"I saw the faces of the people, and they were made so happy," Sarah said. "It made me think if I did a garden, too, it would make people happy."

In lieu of her original plan to host a bake sale or lemonade stand, Sarah sought grant money.

The Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program provides up to $1,000 for projects designed and carried out by young people in the community.

A hardware store donated additional supplies, including the paint for the mural.

Richard estimates that the project would have cost about $2,000 without the support.

"I don't think you could put a price on something everlasting," Richard said.

Members of the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, which shares a building with the Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA , are to tend to the gardens and use organic gardening methods. A University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener and Richard are also to assist.

The spoils of the garden will go to active adult center members and area food banks.

"We want to donate part of the food to people with hardships," Richard said.

Jeter donated his time and talents to the project, too. He participated in seven previous mural projects. Jeter worked with Sarah and a handful of her friends to decide on a theme and color scheme.

Sarah designated the theme "Celestial Gardens ."

"The mural will be here much longer than we are," Richard said.

A Boy Scout also contributed two additional garden beds to the endeavor as part of his Eagle Scout project.

With the brunt of Sarah's hard work behind her, she reflected on the undertaking.

"I've learned that it's important to help other people," Sarah said. "If I wasn't doing this, I would be keeping others from learning new things, too."

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.