MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) -“The business has been great, very brisk today.”
For over 10 years, the MARESA plant sale has been a spring tradition for anyone with a green thumb.
The sale is the premier fundraiser for MARESA’s Special Education Transition Program. The program places students aged 18 to 24 with mild disabilities into positions at area businesses, giving the students valuable job opportunities as well as a boost in confidence.
“We send them out on two job sites, either to Goodwill or they’ve bagged at grocery stores, a wide variety of placements in restaurants, so they’re just gaining some really basic job skills. And a lot of times these students are hired”, said event organizer, Jill Mielcarek.
The plants are all grown from seed by the students in the program, who also learn about basic horticulture, all while raising money for the transition program.
“We talk about the cycle of a plant with the students as well, and they help package things up in six packs for sale. So again, it’s a learning process for the students and a fundraiser for the program,” said Mielcarek
New this year is a Farm to School initiative that will use these donated giant boxes to grow food for the school.
“Produce that we are going to grow and then take into the kitchen to enjoy,” exclaimed Mielcarek.
The sale features all kinds of veggies, herbs, flowers, and even gardening supplies. The sale will continue on Thursday and Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm each day at Saint Michael’s Church in Marquette.
