New garden brings spirit, curiosity to abused children
March 27, 2006

DENTON - Young gardners sprinkled seeds and shoveled dirt as they excitingly prepared for the beginning of spring and the opening of their new flower and vegetable garden at Nelson Children’s Center on March 14.

With the patient help of volunteers, children planted beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions and a variety of flowers. The science classes at Trinity Charter School, which provides educational services at the Nelson Center, also planted watermelons for experiments and summer enjoyment. Now all that is left to do is tend to the garden and wait for the first sprout.

“I can’t wait to see my baby plant grow up big so we can eat it!” said eight-year-old Sara, a resident at Nelson.

The garden also provides an opportunity for the children to be outdoors, to learn about nature, and how to care for living things.

“Our recent cultivation of a children’s garden at the Nelson Center has caused the curiosity to blossom and nurtured the caretaking spirit in our abused and neglected residents,” said Lisa Angell, clinical director of Nelson. “The children are anxiously waiting for the rows of vegetables and flowers to crop up this spring so they can see the fruits of their labor.”

Each age group is responsible for weekly upkeep of their specific rows in the garden. Classes also visit the garden to monitor progress and growth for their specific vegetable or flower.

“I like working in the dirt because it makes me feel calm. It’s quiet out here,” said 14-year-old Joseph.

Susan Cornman, a Christ our Savior Lutheran Church volunteer, helped the children get the dirt ready for planting, and meets with the children every Thursday afternoon to work in the garden. Frenchy’s Lawn and Tree donated the tilling for the garden.

“The garden is an opportunity for kids to enjoy and have success with something they have built with their own hands,” said Cornman. “It is also an amazing opportunity for the children to see God at work, growing things in the garden.”

Nelson Children’s Center is licensed to serve 65 boys and girls ages 11 to 17 who suffer from severe emotional and behavioral problems, mostly as a result of past abuse and neglect. Nelson provides specialized care in a secure, structured environment where residents can receive therapy, attend school, enjoy recreational activities and are offered voluntary spiritual care.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 30,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children’s centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.

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