In the early days of Covid, Melinda Vaughn fell victim to the virus and passed away prior to the creation of a vaccine. In the years since, Vaughn's sister, Jenny Scholtes, has been putting effort into creating pollinator gardens at Minnesota schools through the Melinda Vaughn School Pollinator Fund.
"[Melinda] led with kindness and she touched so many lives and I wanted to honor her in a way that reflected her love for others and for nature," says Scholtes. Each year, the fund focuses its resources on one selected school. During the 2024-25 academic year, the focus will be on Hermantown High School. "We like schools to have a clear idea of the project site and a plan for maintenance and student involvement," says Scholtes. "We'd like the garden to be used as a teaching tool."
This Saturday, August 17th, Hoops Brewing in Canal Park is playing host to the 3rd annual WINGSPAN Fundraiser for the Melinda Vaughn School Pollinator Fund. The event goes from 3-6pm in the Mill Room. Optional tickets are $20 and include a $15 donation to the Fund as well as a beverage. Snacks will be included at this kid-friendly event, as will information about how to best create a pollinator garden.
More information can be found online about both the WINGSPAN Fundraiser and the Melinda Vaughn School Pollinator Fund.
You can hear Green Visions at 8:20am every Wednesday on Northland Morning.
