Children’s Healthcare Of Atlanta Volunteer
Gives Plants A Second Chance
Plants from Children’s at Egleston are “ReStored”

For patients and families, even the shortest hospital stay can be stressful.  Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta strives to create an atmosphere of normalcy for children and their loved ones, by providing features designed to brighten a hospital stay.  At Children’s at Egleston, the garden adjacent to the hospital offers families an oasis of beauty and tranquility during otherwise anxious times.

The garden is maintained by funds from the Laurie Davis Webster Endowment and the dedication of long-time volunteers.  The care and attention of these volunteers has shepherded the garden through recent construction projects at the facility, helping the garden remain a haven for families.  Recently, volunteers found a creative and environmentally-friendly way to deal with a challenge posed by the ongoing construction.

In the past, when construction has made it necessary, staff and volunteers have moved plants to other areas of the garden.  However, recently, they were informed that more than 100 plants had to be moved quickly—but there was no room for additional plants in other areas of the garden.  It seemed the plants were destined for a landfill.  Then, Harriet Kirkpatrick, Garden Co-Chair, remembered something she had heard several weeks before.

“My future daughter-in-law, Erin Croom, works for Atlanta Recycles,” said Harriet. “I remembered her mentioning that plants can be recycled, too, which never occurs to most of us.”  Erin directed Harriet to the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which sells new and gently used home improvement materials and home accessories to the public at deeply discounted prices.  The volunteers delivered three loads of plants, which would have gone to waste otherwise, to the ReStore.  “Habitat was thrilled to receive the plants, and we are delighted to know that the same plants that have brightened children’s lives at Egleston will have an opportunity to make other people happy, too,” said Harriet.