Ocotillo Early Learning Center wanted to renovate its sensory garden, which was in a state of disrepair.
The garden helps enrich the learning process for children with developmental disabilities because they can learn by seeing, touching, hearing and smelling instead of just being in classrooms, school officials said.
The only problem? The school near South Campbell Avenue and East Drexel Road had no money for the renovation.
So Irma Gomez-Sanchez, Ocotillo’s speech pathologist, started a crowdfunding campaign online in February, raising about $800, she said. That would have covered some minimum repairs for the garden to function.
She contacted a Home Depot store to help with supplies . She was pleasantly surprised by the store’s response.
“We just decided to donate it all,” said Marcia Moreno, a Home Depot employee who was involved in coordinating the project. And by “all,” she means covering not just the supplies but the labor.
About 10 employees of the Home Depot store at 1155 W. Irvington Road were hard at work in garden recently.
They were installing lattices, irrigation systems for the garden beds, a misting system for the kids to stay cool during summer, steppingstones for wheelchair access, a large shade structure and bushes for additional shade.
Home Depot employees were also building a colorful music wall that uses pots, pans and other household items that make noise.
Eventually, the garden will have artificial grass where the kids can roam and a table with objects with various textures like rice, sand and balls that kids can play with.
“We’re strongly encouraged to get out in the community,” said Lance Henry, store manager at the Home Depot. The sensory garden project is part of Home Depot’s community outreach effort.
It was not difficult at all to recruit store associates who were willing to help, he said. The store also previously donated Christmas trees to Ocotillo’s neediest families.
“It’s a great feeling to have, knowing these people are so appreciative,” Henry said.
Gomez-Sanchez, the speech pathologist, said she is excited beyond words.
“I was really happy to see that the community has been willing to support us in this,” she said.
