Law students dig in to help out

Windsor law students took an opportunity on October 1 to leave their books behind and take on some charity work in the early fall sunshine.

 

About two dozen students spent the morning in the Windsor-Essex Community Help Centre's garden, preparing the space for the winter. The project was coordinated with the local United Way under its "Day of Caring" program.

 

Third-year law student Gabrielle Wilson said it was a valuable experience.

 

"I think everybody had an amazing time and learned a lot about gardening," she said. "It's good to get out of the law school and see a little more of the community."

 

Head gardener Judy Chappus said the students were extremely helpful, planting a row of native trees and shrubs along the perimeter, removing some of the trellises, and getting the garden ready for winter. In just its second growing season, the garden produced almost 2,000 kilograms of food, which she said is badly needed.

 

"We have a west-end community here that is mostly receiving government cheques—social assistance or old age pensions," Chappus said. "They're running out of money at the end of the month, and fresh fruits and vegetables are the first things to go."

 

That need is what motivated Meaghan Jansen, a first-year law student who had been involved with the Day of Caring program for three years in her home of Toronto before coming to Windsor.

 

"What I like about it is just the grassroots effort to give back to the community," she said.