More than 50 students, most of them from the International School of Communications now housed on the Getchell High School campus, have donated hours of volunteer work at the community garden adjacent to Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville. On Saturday, Oct. 2, dozens of students joined other community volunteers as they harvested pumpkins, squash and other fall produce, all of which will stock the shelves at the Marysville Community Food Bank.

"Our kids are really enthusiastic about this project," said ISC math teacher Emily Lefstad. "Today's work party is a little smaller than usual because of the Senior Cruise and Twilight Track Meet," both of which were set for the same day, she explained.

Over the course of the year, the community garden's bounty has helped fill hundreds of grocery bags provided by the local food bank. An estimated 1,200 pounds of produce comes out of the relatively small plot of land each growing season. This is the garden's fifth year.

While Lefstad admits "weeding gets away from us," the students have delivered fresh produce that includes beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, radishes, turnips, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots and squash to the food bank.

This year, the students grew several giant pumpkins in the garden, four of which were claimed for a unique fundraiser within the school community.

"We're going to take them back to school and hollow out a portion to hold a donation jar," said Lefstad. "Students in each of the four houses (Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma) will compete to see who can raise the most money for the food bank."

Food bank director Dell Deierling spoke to the volunteers during the sunny Saturday harvest.

"Thank you all for everything you do," he said. "People are coming to us everyday for the necessities, and your contributions are helping them until they can get back on their feet."

The community garden is sponsored by Sunnyside Nursery, Consolidated Landscape, deJong Sawdust and Shavings, and Vinyl Signs and Banners.

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