Moya Elementary in Southwest Phoenix is where more than 200 volunteers from Waste and Recycling Company Republic came together this morning to help build a community garden and a brand new soccer field.
Team 12’s Mike Gonzalez was there and tells us why this day is so important for the future of the kids who attend this Title One School.
Moya Elementary is in a pretty tough area on Phoenix. The schools' population is 97% Hispanic and 99% of the students there are considered living at or below poverty and 100% of their students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
For Moya Principal Cindy Sanchez, today is a day she thought she’d never see.
“One of the things we struggle with we don’t have a place for them to play either in school or outside the school. There’s and huge need and a place for kids to play and be children. And that’s something our community needs,” said Sanchez.
Volunteers from Republic Services along with the non-profit Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun worked hand in hand, hauling, cutting, carrying and building, what will ultimately be a community garden and brand new soccer field.
“Our hauling company is about a mile from the school so for us to be able to give back like this, gives me a great sense of pride in what we stand for as a company and what we stand for and our willingness to give back to neighborhoods and communities,” said GM Republic Services: Alberto Guardado
“So by doing a project like this it really does give them hope. They say 'gosh this is for me?' And they get excited. If we can garner that excitement and get them motivated, they will do better in school as well,” said Harry Garewal, an Issac School District Board Member
The project is part of Republic’s Services Charitable Foundation --- that partners with select non-profits to support neighborhood revitalization projects.
Something Principal Sanchez said will mean a new outlook “ I hope this brings a lot of hope not only for our students but our teachers and our entire community here at Moya," said Sanchez.