News  Hampden Juvenile Probation staff provide children and families with plants to grow at a recent local Family Fun Day

Spring is here and so is planting season for Hampden Juvenile Court Probation staff who gave local children and families plants to grow, nurture, and bond over. The 60 potted red and yellow marigold flowers were distributed at the New North Citizens Council and Pynchon Edgewater Community (C3) event on May 15th.

“We provided families and children with flowers, pots, stickers and soil so they could all have their own plants. The children and the adults were able to decorate their pots and choose the flowers of their choice. Our staff truly enjoyed participating in this event and interacting with the community," said Probation Officer II Raquel Cabrera.

Ms. Cabrera attends the weekly North End C3 Community Policing Meeting where local residents community and stakeholders network and share information about community resources. The New North Citizens' Council, Inc. describes its mission and role on its website this way: "Provide advocacy, public and human services to Hampden County residents with an emphasis on the Hispanic/Latino community for the purpose of enhancing the preservation and support of the family resulting in the improvement of life.”

In addition to Ms. Cabrera, Hampden Juvenile was represented at the event by Associate Probation Officer Michael Murphy, Associate Probation Officer Alyssa Yelinek, Associate Probation Officer Kayla Hitchcock, Probation Officer II Brenda Tirado, Associate Probation Officer Jacelyn Diaz, and Probation Case Coordinator Deborah Staton.