Blue KC Volunteers Kick Off Phase One of DeLaSalle Learning Farm Project
Christopher Chartrand, a business process consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), is all in as a volunteer to help build a learning farm at DeLaSalle Education Center.
“When I saw the word ‘farm’, it caught my attention, Chartrand said.
As someone who lives on a farm and ranch that includes goats and chickens, Chartrand has a chance to pass his farming knowledge on to students, as he gives back to the community.
“I do a lot of volunteer stuff with kids,” he said. “I have five kids myself. We are a foster family and have adopted a child. My wife is a child therapist. My whole life is about kids.”
The kids at DeLaSalle will soon see an acre of land on school property transform into a learning farm and become a new center for urban agriculture to help address food insecurity, thanks to a partnership between Blue KC, behavioral and mental health nonprofit Cornerstones of Care and its vocational program, Build Trybe.
As part of Phase 1 for the project, Blue KC employees are volunteering at the Build Trybe fabrication shop to create 16 raised beds out of cedar that will be installed at the DeLaSalle farm for planting vegetables.
“The raised beds will be boxes that you fill with good soil to begin horticulture and food production, while over time, restoring the fertility of the rest of the soil,” Build Trybe Director Theo Bunch said. “Blue KC volunteers at our shop are allowing for a lot of great interactions between them and our students, running flamethrowers and screwing boards.
“One group measured and cut the boards, and two groups were building the raised beds,” Blue KC Director of Multicultural Initiatives Wendell Cole said following a recent volunteer event at Build Trybe. “In particular, Chris Chartrand jumped in measuring boards, and he was working closely with one of the students who had never used an impact drill before.”
“Chris was working with Cass from DeLaSalle,” Bunch said. “This is the start of Cass’ adventure in the shop. She’s intelligent, and Chris is accomplished builder! He taught her a lot!”
“Toward the end of the night, Chris had a pencil, and he would draw a spot on the board to drill holes, and I would put the screws in,” Cole said. “She was like, ‘I think I got it now’, and she absolutely nailed it!”
“I love seeing that!” Bunch said. “If we don’t have that community engagement, it’s not feasible to give them the depth of experience for success. With Blue KC having volunteers like that, we’re able to see the progress of our students skyrocket.”
“One person can make a difference if we can be that one good adult to help them be successful,” Chartrand said. “Honestly, by the end of this project, most of these kids will be able to maintain all the equipment and structures. They’re going to know how to cut a piece of wood to replace it. One of the intents of this program is to help the students be self-sufficient in this world.”
“Often you walk into spaces and think you can’t do this, but then you realize you can!” Cole said. “That young lady said, ‘I’ve got this!’ You can perform just as well with the right opportunities. I love seeing that potential come out in people! They get a chance to drive their future!”
“I have been very impressed with Blue KC and charity, but this project is next level,” Chartrand said. “It’s a big investment taking on a multiyear project. It’s nice to see a business give back to the community like Blue KC does.”
