Let's Make Mary's Garden Grow at EECS

Dear friends and family of Mary Marsters,

To celebrate Mary’s memory, we are partnering with the East End Community School to raise funds in Mary’s honor for a garden education program and teacher.

Mary was truly happy gardening, bringing beauty and life to the earth.

As a matter of fact, before leaving for the Caribbean, she met with the school’s community outreach coordinator to plan her involvement with the children’s garden.

It is our intention to carry out Mary’s wish and establish this garden education fund for the school in Mary’s neighborhood to honor her life and to support and promote the learning and growth of the EECS students.

The East End Elementary School Garden Program serves the children of East End Community School, which is a public elementary school serving over 400 preK-5th graders living in East Bayside and Munjoy Hill in Portland. With over 29 languages spoken, more than 36 countries represented, and home to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, EECS proudly represents one of the most diverse and inclusive populations in the state of Maine.  

EECS relies entirely on outside fundraising to pay for its educator and to keep the program and the garden afloat.  The school receives no money from the city or Portland Public Schools for the garden programming or maintenance.

The focus of the educator is to immerse students in an experiential curriculum. This curriculum includes: growing fruits and vegetables, understanding good nutrition, cooking and learning to make healthy eating choices. Whenever possible, classes are held outside so that the students can see, smell and taste the garden.

Any excess produce harvested is donated to the Locker Project, which distributes the produce back into our local community to needy children, thereby providing the students with another important experience: giving back.

The cost to provide an educator for the garden each year is $6,000. Our goal is to fund the program well into the future. Additionally, there will be a plaque in the garden dedicated to Mary.

We hope that you will join us to sow the seeds of Mary’s joy and passion by supporting the East End Community School garden program. Thank you.

Naila Wissa, Community Outreach Coordinator for EECS

Lindsay Matranga, EECS PTO President

Betty Lorber, Munjoy Heights neighbor & friend

Ann Casady, Munjoy Heights neighbor & friend