Roosevelt students take pride in garden

The May 20 article 'Growing more school gardens” caught my eye. While you mentioned the project at Coralville's Northwest Junior High School, you missed a wonderful example in Cedar Rapids.

Roosevelt Middle School has had an ongoing project for the past several years, under the direction of Sandy Frese and the Roosevelt staff.

The project encompasses the complete 'agricultural system” from the students planning their 'crops,” growing the produce from seed to harvest, receiving sales and marketing experience through a limited 'farmers market” experience and then donating their produce to recipient families in the Time Check/Ellis Park area. And, all of this work is being done by the participating students on a year-round basis.

In the article, you talk of school staff members funding their initiatives through donations or private grants. I understand a major portion of the funding for the Roosevelt project is being provided by the Tuesday Noon Optimist Club in Cedar Rapids.

Hats off to Frese, the Roosevelt staff, and the Tuesday Noon Optimists who have made this one of their major projects, in keeping with their slogan 'Friend of Youth.” Thank you to the individuals who are taking a positive approach to helping our young people.

Fred R. Johnson

Cedar Rapids