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Commonwealth Charter Academy Students Donate Produce to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Students with disabilities give back to the community during the holiday season Harrisburg, Pa. – As a way to give back to the community and in recognition of the many families throughout Pennsylvania facing challenges due to the pandemic, students with disabilities who attend […]
12/18/2020
Commonwealth Charter Academy Students Donate Produce to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Students with disabilities give back to the community during the holiday season
Harrisburg, Pa. – As a way to give back to the community and in recognition of the many families throughout Pennsylvania facing challenges due to the pandemic, students with disabilities who attend Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) and participate in the Goals, Relationships, Opportunities, and Workmanship (GROW) Program today donated more than 29 pounds of student-grown lettuce to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
The GROW program is designed to help students with autism and intellectual disabilities work on social skills, independence, transition, and employability.
The AgWorks at CCA team and CCA’s special education teachers worked with students virtually to manage and oversee the growing and management of the produce.
“The GROW Program gives students with disabilities the opportunity to expand their learning opportunities while helping and giving back to the community,” said Thomas Longenecker, president and CEO of CCA. “I am proud of these students for their dedication and commitment to helping families throughout central Pennsylvania.”
Since AgWorks at CCA first opened in December 2018, more than 1,370 pounds of produce has been donated to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which is the equivalent of 16,663 side salads or 10,664 entrée salads.
At 6,100 square feet, AgWorks at CCA – located at the school’s Capital Campus in Harrisburg – is a PA Preferred, soilless, zero-waste ecosystem and is the largest state-of-the-art public educational aquaponics facility in the United States. It uses technology and fish to fertilize and grow plants.
“AgWorks at CCA is one of three CCAWorks initiatives to provide students with hands-on, real-life experience in a variety of industries,” Longenecker said. “CCA’s goal is to prepare today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow and we are committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn and grow academically.”
Learn more about CCA by visiting ccaeducate.me.
Media Contact:
Tim Eller, 717-710-3335, [email protected]
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Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) is Pennsylvania’s largest public cyber charter school serving more than 18,000 students statewide in grades K through 12. CCA is celebrating nearly 20 years of student success as an online learning leader, providing flexible and personalized academic instruction. CCA is a family service organization that creates an educational experience and sociable learning opportunities for the entire family, including more than 700 educational field trips, hands-on workshops, community events and more.
