Hello Jim Bob,

Kaifa here. Wanting to thank you and APF for the donations made to WiderCircle in their effort to facilitate a beautification project at Davis Elementary this past Saturday. It was a combined service project with the Madeira School. This is how I became involved because I am a Madeira alum. I was excited by the opportunity because I would get to share in my two passions of beautifying schools and digging in the dirt. (I've done similar projects with Casey Trees). But when I approached the WiderCircle staff as they were about to unload supplies and materials, wearing one of my worn but favorite APF shirts, I would be eagerly greeted because they were unloading material and had a truck full of plants donated by APF. The first name and only name I heard was Jim Bob. I immediately thought of the conversations we used to weave into our work together. For me the truck full of material and plants was a reflection of the difference we can make from where we are, doing what we do when the desire and understanding is present.

I don't know if we were successful in carrying out your design plan, but I do know that all involved (including a mother, who works at the school, along with her seven children who all attended there, but who no longer live in the neighborhood but traveled by bus with their mother to get there) dug and planted with much enthusiasm and understanding of what we were trying to give to the school. The experience represented so much more than just putting plants into the ground. I proudly dirtied up my APF shirt while assisting first time planters and collaborated with seasoned gardeners. It was indeed a beautiful day with everyone digging deep in and out of the soil. Thank you again for making the connection, extending the opportunity for beauty from Bethesda to southeast DC.

Forever grateful,
Kaifa