This last month was so exciting at STAR Club. As the weather improved, we spent time picking out plants at The Plant Project and started spending time at the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden. Millwood Impact has 4 garden plots at the Community Garden and we are doing our best to take full advantage of our time there. We have experts from Growing Neighbors helping us figure out the best configurations for plants, we also have Teresa Sadler and her husband Doug, the manager and caretakers of the garden helping us with getting plants and giving us projects to do. 

One student has been to the garden twice now and the first time he was not eager to go. He struggled to get focused and listen, so we went on a walk with him to pick up trash on the property. He loved it! As we walked his eyes lit up as we saw carved benches, giant stumps, fungus and sticks. All things that got him more excited to be there. Eventually we walked back to the group and when we got back, he listened a little more to our friend Mary from Growing Neighbors as she shared about plants that are friendly with each other and how to incorporate flowers so the bees will be more attracted to the bed. 

It is through experiences like these that we see incremental growth in many students as we grow to have more of a relationship with students.

Mary-Pat has been heavily involved in the west valley community for many years.

She has many roles, including former West Valley High School teacher, wife, grandma, and now STAR Club mentor. These roles have allowed her to create incredible relationships with the people in this community.

Every Wednesday from 3-6pm, Mary-Pat gives her full attention to five students, or as she calls them, "her girls." She listens to them, engages in fun team-building activities, and celebrates with them when they receive awards.

Recently, Mary-Pat took her STAR Club students to her home to share more of her story and her latest sewing project. She surprised each student with a custom bag filled with all their favorite items and items that shared more of her story. Mary-Pat is intentional and has been slowly building a list of things each student likes.

Thank you, Mary-Pat, for cultivating connection and investing in STAR Club students. You are making a difference!

We're so glad that Millwood Meal has become a community event that so many of you look forward to! Hutton Settlement and our hope is that Millwood Meal would give community members an opportunity to hear someone else's story, a chance to cultivate connection all while sharing a meal around a dinner table. This month, we helped spark conversation by providing each table with ice breaker questions. We've listed them below in hopes to inspire and spark conversation at your dinner table! Click Here to register for May 25th Millwood Meal.

Millwood Meal Sponsors 

Dessert Sponsor: The Friends Of The Argonne Library

Serving Team: Pasadena Park Elementary School

Interested in sponsoring? Let's connect, Click Here

Dinner Table Questions:

You're stuck on an island, what's one thing you wish you had?

Share your favorite summer memory?