Building a garden to help others

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. recently held its 13th annual Community Partnership Day of service and volunteerism. As part of this day, a group of 10 employees spent the workday at the KEEP (Kids Educational Enrichment Program) facility in Sparta to build a vegetable garden. They spent the day digging trenches for the railroad tie foundation, hauling buckets of soil for fill and raking it out. Their efforts were enhanced by the helpful hands of L’il KEEPer’s toddlers who joined in the raking and digging. The toddlers, preschoolers and their teachers will plant, tend and harvest the vegetables. All of the vegetables harvested will be distributed to KEEP families in need and to Manna House. This year, more than 1,500 associates from Novartis’ East Hanover headquarters spent a workday volunteering to help more than 85 nonprofit agencies throughout New Jersey. Photo provided