{"id":280078,"date":"2026-09-06T04:28:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T04:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/280078\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T04:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T04:28:18","slug":"sarah-pollick-inspires-children-to-help-others-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/280078\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Pollick inspires children to help others"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

When Sarah Pollick opened The Growing Patch Early Learning Center in Exeter in 2020, she was determined to make the children under her care experience the joy and value of helping others.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt goes along with our name. We\u2019re trying to grow for the future and put some good humans out in the world,\u201d Pollick said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping the lessons we\u2019ve instilled will make the world a little bit brighter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pollick\u2019s focus on giving back prompted her nomination for the Times Leader\u2019s 2026 \u201cWomen Inspired\u201d series.<\/p>\n

Every spring, the Tunkhannock Avenue center seeks donations to buy flats of flowers, dirt and pots as part of its \u201cSeedlings for Seniors\u201d project.<\/p>\n

It becomes the center with \u201cdirty hands and a big heart\u201d on the day children place the flowers in hundreds of pots for delivery to the elderly, Pollick said.<\/p>\n

Parents volunteer to take the pots to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.<\/p>\n

This year, the group planted and distributed 480 flowers to five locations.<\/p>\n

The project is ideal for children because they are able to both help prepare the flowers and see the smiling recipients, either in-person or through photographs, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re able to explain it to the kids on their level, and it makes sense for the kids that it\u2019s the right thing to do,\u201d Pollick said.<\/p>\n

Another example is the August lemonade stand to generate funds for a good cause.<\/p>\n

The event also features raffle baskets and snacks.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s recipient of the $1,603 raised was the American Cancer Society\u2019s Philadelphia Hope Lodge, which provides free, supportive lodging for patients in active cancer treatment and their caregivers.<\/p>\n

Pollick said she picked the facility as this year\u2019s recipient because it provided great comfort to a family member who had to endure difficult treatments.<\/p>\n

Other charitable causes received funds through the annual event that started in 2021.<\/p>\n

Pollick kept others in mind before she even obtained licensing to accept students. At her August 2020 ribbon-cutting and open house, she asked attendees to bring supplies for the Luzerne County Children, Youth and Families agency.<\/p>\n

A Plains Township native, Pollick said she long wanted to start an early learning center. She previously taught in the Luzerne County Head Start program and worked as a substitute in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.<\/p>\n

She acted on her desire to create a facility of her own during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing an increased need for care in the community.<\/p>\n

Approximately 45 children attend, up to age 12.<\/p>\n

Information is available at thegrowingpatchelc.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to messages of helping others, many center lessons incorporate nature-based play and arts and crafts, she said.<\/p>\n

Formerly Sarah Benczkowski, she married Eric three years ago and has a 1-year-old son, E.J., and two dogs.<\/p>\n

Pollick said she was \u201ctaken aback\u201d to be selected for the feature.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing I expected. I\u2019m super grateful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She is thankful for teachers and others who inspired her growing up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me really happy that I can hopefully impact the community in that way too,\u201d Pollick said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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