HYPE Hangout III: Bloom Into Action! ?

HYPE Hangout III was held on March 6th, 2021. Seventeen members of Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) spent their Saturday giving back at Ruth’s Roots Community Garden. The day began with a tour from Elise Deano, the founder of Ruth’s Roots, who shared the story of how the nonprofit came to be and the amazing ways it’s grown in the years since.
 
From the Blessings Box to the rows of vegetable beds, and all of the provisions and critters in between, Ruth’s Roots provides a haven overflowing with life and art. The space is as fanciful and bright as it is functional, with sculptures, music, murals, and tributes that encourage visitors to live well and joyfully.
 
HYPE members took time to explore and soak it all in before getting to work. A grotto area that holds a shrine of Mary was weeded and rearranged, the Blessings Box reorganized and filled with member donations, and stray debris picked up. A trash can receptacle was built from repurposed pallets and decorated and the Seed Library stocked with packets. The youth then painted three libraries, a sunflower sculpture, a hopscotch path, vegetable beds, and even an alligator!
 
Hangout III was an incredible success and the youth were proud to see how much of an impact they could make in a single day. HYPE Hangouts provide opportunities for Hancock County students in grades 6-12 to serve their community while enjoying time with new friends from other schools in a safe and substance-free environment. 
 
A special thank you to the following community members for contributing to HYPE Hangout III and making the day a huge success:
 

• Elise Deano for welcoming HYPE, sharing the mission of Ruth’s Roots, and hosting us for the day
• Domino’s Pizza of Bay St. Louis for providing lunch (for the second Hangout in a row!)
• Steve Barney at the Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center for his continued creativity, belief in HYPE’s mission, and support at all of our events
• Michelle Coble for bringing an ice chest of water and Gatorade, it was a huge help - our HYPE parents are awesome!

Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts members attend each of the seven Hancock County middle and high school campuses, and new participants are always welcome. For information on how to get involved as a student or coalition member please email Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.