Women’s and Children’s Hospital second annual Youth Garden Launch
Saturday morning kids gathered at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia for the second annual Youth Garden Launch.
“You do get your hands dirty, but we got to plant a lot of flowers and we got to plant some food so they can pick it and use it for the Children’s Hospital,” said Callie Brinkman, who is a Girl Scout on troop 70258.
The garden is a space aimed to help patients and children grow through gardening. “Celebrate this space for our kids and the community to learn how to grow healthy foods so they will stay healthy,” said Lori Atkins, who helped coordinate the event.
“There’s a woman here who had a vision of helping boys and girls in this community come together and learn how to grow and nurture their spirits as well as the flowers in the garden,” said Diana Madison, who was friends with the woman behind the garden, Sheila Robertson.
While the celebration brought the community together, it was also a special memorial for everyone at the Networks of Mid-Missouri.
Sheila Robertson was a crucial part the ABC 17 News team. We lost Robertson far too soon last fall.
On Saturday, her passion for giving to the community was remembered as friends, family and volunteers met at the youth garden that she held so close to her heart. “Sheila loved all living things both plants and animals and I think gardening was just another way she wanted to help,” said Jeff Robertson, Sheila’s husband.
“It will be a beautiful place for us to come and remember her and smile and think these are just one of the great things she left us with,” said Madison.
