CN+R STAFF REPORTS

PITTSBORO Each year, Chatham Countys department leaders gather for a day of service and team-building activities as a way to give back to the community and get to know each other better.

On Oct. 15, the group provided a morning of service at the Central Carolina Community College Student Farm in Pittsboro.

County employees received a tour of the farm, which produces organic crops. Ashley Byrd, assistant manager, said the teams of county employee volunteers worked throughout the morning to remove pepper trellising and to harvest various crops including sweet potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. The volunteers were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor by taking home a bag of produce.

In just a few hours, the volunteers made a big impact in helping us harvest our crops, Byrd said. There is always work to be done on the farm, and we are grateful for the time that the county employees spent with us.

The organic produce from the Student Farm is provided to the CCCC Culinary Arts program as well as food pantries in Chatham County.

This was such a meaningful experience for our department leaders to come together and give back to the community that we serve while building stronger relationships with each other said County Manager Dan LaMontagne.

We learned a great deal about the delicious organic crops produced right here in our community and the hard work it takes to make them thrive.

County leaders also toured two new facilities under construction. Their first stop was Chatham Grove Elementary School, which is expected to open to students in the fall of 2020. Chatham Grove will be Chatham Countys 17th school and will also include a Community Center through partnership with Chatham County Parks and Recreation.

The group also toured the Central Carolina Community College Health Sciences Building, which is scheduled to open to students this winter.

Byrd noted that the CCCC Student Farm has a wide range of volunteer opportunities. Anyone who is interested in volunteering at CCCCs Student Farm may contact Ashley Byrd at ebyrd@cccc.edu or 919-545-8670.

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Chatham County department leaders give back on the farm - The Chatham News + Record