FES to grow a garden

School receives a $2,500 grant from Alabama Power Co.

Flomaton Elementary School teacher Danielle Brown received a double surprise Wednesday morning when representatives from Alabama Power, Co., presented her with a check to kickoff her science class' pollinator garden at the school.

Brown had applied for $500 grant to begin the project. Beth Thomas and Tripp Ward with Alabama Power were on campus Wednesday to present her with a $2,500 check.

Escambia County School Superintendent Michele McClung, Operations Manager Shaun Goolsby and Autumn Brown joined in her classroom to present the check.

Thomas said the funds to Flomaton Elementary School came from the power company's 'Students to Stewards' grant program that are used to help enhance learning through environmental conservation activities.

"By expanding these opportunities, students are able to participate in hands-on activities that help them learn about environmental stewardship," Thomas stated.

Thomas added that eight schools across the state were awarded the grants this spring, with Flomaton being one of them.

Since its creation in 1989, with funds donated by shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits with non-ratepayer dollars through more than 20,000 grant and scholarship awards.

Danielle Brown said she plans to use the funds to have the students' plant the pollinator garden in the courtyard between the two elementary school buildings.

The goal is to attract Monarch butterflies to the garden, which will then be tagged for their journey south with some who may make it to South America. The tag will identify that the butterfly came from Flomaton Elementary School as the students keep track of their travels.