- October 24, 2025
- Posted by: LWB
- Category: News
WILKES-BARRE — Each year, the members of the Leadership Northeast Core Class take on several Community Impact Projects aimed at bettering the community.
And for eight members of the class of 2025, their project is not only going to require a lot of work, but also a green thumb.
The LNE team is called The Guardians of The Garden and its project involves building a garden — featuring raised garden beds — for the clients, or “consumers,” at Step by Step in Plains Township.
Step by Step consumers face the challenges of learning and sometimes physical disabilities, and The Guardians of The Garden feel a raised garden bed, right on-site at the facility, could have a positive, long-term impact on the people that require their services and would further fulfill Step by Step’s mission of enhancing the quality of life and personal growth of those served.
“It’s an opportunity to make a real, lasting impact on the consumers at Step by Step by helping them overcome challenges and improve their quality of life,” said team member Nicole Kerestes. “Knowing that our work will create a space for relaxation, engagement and personal growth makes it incredibly meaningful. It’s great to be a part of something that will continue to inspire and support them for years to come.”
The Guardians of The Garden project involves building the garden, landscaping and adding an awning to the outside area at Step by Step, located at 350 Second Street in Plains.
Team members are Kal Ali, Hershey Co.; Ellie Bartoli, Coffee Inclusive; Nicole Kerestes, Benco Dental; Fred Lokuta, Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP; Tori Reinard, Geisinger Health System; Kristen Scali, MOHELA; Kelsey Van Horn, Kelsey Van Horn Design Studio; Alan Stout, Visit Luzerne County.
The RFP for the project, submitted to Leadership Northeast by Step by Step, read:
“We would love it to be a creative and artistic space for program participants to enjoy. An awning would be a great addition to the patio area since it gets a great deal of sun, rendering it unusable for a portion of most days. Many of our individuals have sun sensitivity due to medications from their complex medical needs. Our program participants would benefit from the garden in many ways. They can learn to tend to a garden in a setting that makes it comfortable to work in if they have limited mobility or use a wheelchair. In addition, they can develop many transferable skills associated with gardening such planting, weeding, watering and harvesting their crops. They will then develop cooking skills as they turn their produce into salads, sauces, and simple meals.”
The Guardians of The Garden loved the idea.
“I am excited to create an accessible and inclusive garden that is open and welcoming to everyone, including people with learning disabilities and physical challenges in which they can experience the therapeutic benefits of nature,” says team member Kristen Scali. “This garden will not only provide a safe and welcoming environment but will also empower participants to engage with the natural world, build practical skills, and develop a sense of independence. Ultimately, this project is about creating a space that is not just a garden, but a place where everyone — regardless of ability — can thrive and feel valued.”
Those that have already supported the project are: Kettles Greenhouse, Falls; Edward’s Garden Center, Forty Fort: Home Depot, Wilkes-Barre; Kalinosky Landscaping, Wyoming; Steve’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, Drums; and Larry O’Malia’s Farm and Greenhouses, Wilkes-Barre.
“The staff and consumers of Step by Step are an inspiration for what they do each day,” says team member Fred Lokuta. “It’s an honor to play a part in contributing to this great organization. I’m hopeful that our garden project will provide a beautiful space for years to come for Step by Step consumers to enjoy, while cultivating their gardening and cooking skills.”
For information about the project, visit www.facebook.com/GuardiansOfTheGardenLNE. There is a link to an Amazon wish list on the page.