The children at the Pollock Child Care Center on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, ranging in age from preschool through age 9 during the summer, tended a vegetable and herb garden - an exercise in agriculture. When teachers asked what to do with the produce flourishing in their garden, the children decided to sell it, bringing simple business concepts to their attention. Next they developed a marketing and distribution plan and loaded their harvest into a wagon and, with their hand-made signs, walked to the college quad in front of Cooper Student Center where staff could purchase fresh tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, basil, parsley and more.
Teachers then asked what should the children do with the money and they all agreed to donate it to help homeless children and their families. They selected Interfaith Shelter for Homeless Families nearby on the grounds of the Harrisburg State Hospital for their philanthropic lesson.
Representatives accepting the check today for Interfaith Shelter were Linda Grudi, program manager, and Melinda Kirk, case worker.
Interfaith Shelter focuses on keeping homeless families together while supporting the search for permanent housing and employment for adults. The shelter provides housing, food, clothing, child care, counseling and medical care through a cooperative effort with the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The Pollock Child Care Center is home to HACC's early childhood education program and also serves as a child care center for students and staff of the college. The center supports HACC students who are parents with infants through preschool age children, and in some instances, such as during the summer months, children up to third grade (age 9). Flexible, drop-in care is offered, complemented by a child development curriculum that advances HACC students studying early childhood education as well as teaches and socializes young children.