Since January 2026, Mitzvah Garden KC (MGKC) has been working with individuals with disabilities in the Blue Valley School District 18-21 program to get plants ready for spring.
“Two differently-abled individuals for two days a week for two hours a day are making a difference for their community that most people couldn’t even dream of,” Nick Smith, Mitzvah Garden KC’s farm manager, said. “The pride that the students show when people come to the greenhouse and their jaws drop is amazing.”
Blue Valley School District’s 18-21 program supports individuals with disabilities ages 18 to 21 who have met all of the district’s high school graduation requirements. Students in the program receive most of their instruction in community-based settings, bringing them the skills and resources needed to live and work as independently as possible.
The district explains the program as “more than just a school — we’re a vibrant community committed to cultivating lifelong learners prepared to navigate their future with purpose.”
“I’m most excited for them to see their plants in the ground before the semester is finished,” Smith said. “What the students start from seed, they will harvest and bring back to their own food pantry, giving them a look at the entire food supply chain. The pictures simply don’t do what they’ve done justice. It’s a commercial operation at this point.”
By the middle of February, this partnership had already seeded enough starts to provide over 36,000 servings (about 6,200 lb.) of produce. The produce these seedlings yield will eventually be distributed at the Blue Valley Food Pantry by the same students, giving them a full circle moment to see how their hard work pays off for peers in need.
Smith estimates that during the 2026 season, this partnership will seed 74% of all plants the Mitzvah Garden will plant and 84% of all food produced.
Smith told The Chronicle that he’s seen firsthand the ways in which agriculture has been therapeutic for many people. Getting involved in a growth project where you can see the fruits of your labor can be a transformative experience, especially when the work one does is personal and unique.
“One student is growing their favorite vegetable, a green bean, that they planted the first day we were together, and beans are starting to form. The other student has an internship at a farm and is starting a home garden,” Smith said.
The entire community is invited to volunteer at Mitzvah Garden KC throughout the season, March to November, on Sunday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Those interested in more information about MGKC or joining its email list can email Ken Sonnenschein at .
