Children ranging from kindergarten through eleventh grade from Wesley Chapel United Methodist and Trinity United Methodist in the Fort Ashby/Short Gap area participated in a community service project that brought smiles — and tears of joy — to many people in the community.
With help from their parents, Donna Borho, Darlene Richards, and Donnie and Donna Alt of Brookedale Farms gave away 50 flowers and plants to seniors and local businesses. The Alts nurtured and cared for the plants at a greenhouse on their farm.
“Brookedale Farms really helped the project along,” Borho said. “They gave us a wonderful head start and made if affordable. Without them, I don’t think we could have done this project.”
The project began in January of 2007 with the purchase of seeds, followed by the planting of seeds in February and two sperate transplants of the flower seeds and produce seeds in March and April.  To wrap it up, the plants were delivered last weekend.
Both churches provided the materials for the project.
“It was rewarding that the community allowed us to be a part of their lives,” Borho went on. “It was rewarding to see the children smile and to see the receivers of the plants smile.”
Children gave away phlox, shirley poppies, sweet peas, babies breath, comsos, asters, dianthus, bachelor’s buttons, daisies, and zinnias to the businessess. They gave produce plants such as basil, lettuce, tomato and chives.
Every senior who got a plant also received a card from the children explaining why they received the plant. The children read the card aloud to the person receiving the gift.  The card emphasized the rudiments of the Christianity: Faith, trust, and love.
Through this project, the children also learned the rudiments of Christianity. They had to have faith the plants would grow, they needed to trust that God would take care of the plants, and they demonstrated love by giving the plants away, Borho said.
Borho also noted that initially the flowers were going to seniors alone, but because of the abundance of plants, they expanded the project to include local businesses. “God blessed us enough to provide more beauty and more kindness to others,” Borho explained.
Borho emphasized the fact that the children hand-picked the businesses based on acts of kindness that the businesses had shown to the children.
“It was nice to see the children giving back to a business that made a positive influence in their lives,” Borho said. “They continued the circle of kindness.”
Each business was given a flower with a Bible verse attached. 
“The verse were ones that are meant to compliment people’s lives,” said Borho. 
Businesses receiving the flowers were: The Fort Ashby Dollar General, Wayne’s Meat Market, Grady’s 1 Stop Shop, Fox’s Pizza, Fort Ashby Farm and Garden, Dr. Ronald Haggerty, Save-A-Lot, Citgo, S&S Electric, Bradshaw’s Towing, Mountaineer Mart, Victorian Creations in Ridgeley, and Back to Basics in Cresaptown.
“One child decided to choose Citgo because they were always willing to help with whatever fundraiser they brought in,” said Borho. “This gave children the chance to do something for their community and work as a team for one purpose — to make a difference.”
Borho says she hopes to continue the project next year.