Rooted in community

Creating a safer space for families

Welcome to Spotlight, a new digital content series showcasing high-impact, good news stories from the Fanshawe community.
 

Anna Raineri (Horticulture Technician, 25) knew exactly who to call.  

As a volunteer with LIFE*SPIN, a local non-profit organization that supports low-income individuals and families, Anna saw the need to revitalize and create a safe outdoor space that is regularly used by families, children, staff and neighbourhood residents.  

Anna reached out to her former Fanshawe professor Matt Hart, who has extensive experience in horticulture and landscape construction. Matt runs his own small business during the summer months with student employees and saw this as a terrific opportunity to support a cause close to home.  

"I've always tried to give back," Matt says. "Especially to places like LIFE*SPIN. They're totally reliant on donations from the community, and this happened to be within my skillset, so why not help?" 

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Materials were donated by local partners like Oaks Landscape Products, while Matt, Anna and volunteers worked together to clean existing bricks, install new curbing and restore the patio space so it could once again be safely enjoyed.  

"For small, not-for-profit charities like LIFE*SPIN, it is community support from organizations like Fanshawe College that make our work possible," says Meagen Ciufo, executive director of LIFE*SPIN. "This revitalization of the patio has breathed new life into a space where community can come together." 

Matt says projects like this show students how they can make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom. 

"I think it's important to walk the walk," he says. "Many of our students are community-minded and want to make a difference. It's good to show that giving back is something we can actively do." 

For Anna, the project reflects the power of collaboration and the lasting connections made at Fanshawe. 

"Matt was a fantastic teacher and brought the same professionalism, expertise and generosity to this project that he demonstrated in the classroom," Anna says. "We are so grateful for everything he did to make it a success." 

All images courtesy of LIFE*SPIN