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![\"Jennifer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4172077_web1_River-East-Collegiate-students-Jenna-Martino-Dhyani-Patel-and-Dyana-Kehler-and-Donwood-.jpeg\")
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Jennifer Kappy PHOTO<\/p>\n
River East Collegiate students Jenna Martino, Dhyani Patel and Dyana Kehler and Donwood tenant Melba Doerksen with freshly harvested produce from the hydroponic garden.<\/p>\n
The goal for Donwood was to use the garden vegetables to supplement meals for the 181 residents in the facility\u2019s long-term care section, and for tenants in the 118 attached independent-living apartments.<\/p>\n
At the same time, it would be a way for residents who enjoy gardening to be active, keep up their interests and use their skills, said tenant resource coordinator and volunteer resources manager Jennifer Kappy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many of our tenants used to have gardens at their homes,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was one of things they loved about being in their own homes. They miss that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kappy also wanted to use the garden as a way to bring young people to the facility to engage with older adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to create a way for different generations to share knowledge, form relationships and learn and work together towards a common goal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
To accomplish that, Kappy reached out to nearby River East Collegiate.<\/p>\n
Anita Stepaniuk, who teaches German and English as a second language, responded, seeing it as a great way for students to learn about sustainability and to get to know seniors in the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about growing vegetables,\u201d said Stepaniuk, who organized the student involvement with Danielle Fontaine, a physical education teacher. \u201cIt\u2019s about growing intergenerational relationships between the students and the residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project \u2014 called Growing Together \u2014 sees students visit Donwood once a week from January to June to plant seeds, harvest together and connect over gardening.<\/p>\n
Not only does it benefit the students, who get to meet and learn from seniors, but the older adults are also enriched. \u201cIt brightens their day when the students are here,\u201d Stepaniuk said.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN LONGHURST PHOTO<\/p>\n Students (r-l) Jenna Martino, Dyhani Patel, Dyana Kehler and Anastasia Subota plant seeds with Donrood tenants Essie Herrod and Melba Doerksen<\/p>\n Grade 11 student Dyhani Patel said she enjoys participating in the project for several reasons, including advancing her career aspirations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will help since I expect to be working with seniors through nursing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Another student, Dyana Kehler, has embraced the nature aspect of the project.<\/p>\n \u201cThis allows me to be connected with nature, get volunteer experience and get to know seniors at Donwood,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI like hearing their stories,\u201d added Jenna Martino, who is in Grade 11.<\/p>\n Anita Warkentin, who lives in an apartment at Donwood, said the best thing about the project are the relationships residents are building with students. \u201cThey inspire me,\u201d the 88-year-old said.<\/p>\n \u201cI like gardening, and I like to see the students learn more about it,\u201d added Adina Goertzen, 95.<\/p>\n Another resident, who is dedicated to ensuring the gardens have enough water and nutrients, said she loves watching the vegetables grow.<\/p>\n \u201cI check on them every day. But the best part is being with the students,\u201d said Melba Doerksen, 78.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN LONGHURST PHOTO<\/p>\n Community enrichment coordinator Minoli Maharage hands lettuce to Donwood tenant Adina Goertzen.<\/p>\n Donwood volunteer Heidi Goertz organizes the weekly planting and harvesting sessions. \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see the relationships that have bloomed through this gardening project,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a real blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t In addition to growing vegetables and herbs for residents, the seniors and students grow plants for Donwood\u2019s annual garden sale, and also for residents who live nearby in homes managed by Manitoba Housing.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s also part of our mission as a faith-based organization,\u201d said Kappy, noting plants are donated to Manitoba Housing residents so they can grow food. \u201cIt\u2019s about showing love for our neighbours, many of whom are newcomers or single parent families.\u201d<\/p>\n The project was made possible by grants from the federal government\u2019s New Horizons for Seniors Program and the Community Housing Transformation Centre, a national non-profit organization that supports and strengthens Canada\u2019s community housing sector.<\/p>\n In 2024, the project received a Healthy Aging award from the provincial government. The award celebrates projects and people that work to improve the health and well-being of older adults.<\/p>\n faith@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\tThe Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba through our Religion in the News project. This reporting continues because readers like you step forward to fund it.<\/p>\n Donate now to support our reporting on religion. \t\t\t\t John Longhurst John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.<\/p>\n
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