Harlee’s Garden Blooms with Purpose: Youth Wellness and Community Grow Side by Side

On a warm summer day in Front Royal, a garden began to grow, not just with tomatoes and herbs, but with purpose, memory, and healing.

Behind the Student Union at the Raymond E. Santmyer Youth Center, a new community garden now stands in tribute to Harlee Anne Hire, a beloved local student lost too soon. The project is a collaboration between Reaching Out Now, ClearHorizons, and the Abundant Life Church, a space meant to nourish minds, bodies, and hearts.

Samantha Barber, president of Reaching Out Now, explained that the idea took root following a grant from Valley Health to promote mindful wellness in the community. Inspired by Harlee’s legacy and driven by concern over the mental health struggles facing local youth, Barber and her team envisioned something lasting: a space where young people could find connection, calm, and hands-on experience.

“We thought, what better way to honor Harlee and support mental wellness than through a community garden that brings kids together?” said Barber. “It’s about creating something beautiful, something healing, and something useful.”

The raised garden beds were designed and built with help from Harlee’s friends, family, and members of the Abundant Life Church. Local youth spent time painting rocks in purple, Harlee’s favorite color, and planting tomatoes, herbs, peppers, squash, and flowers, creating a vibrant space they can return to throughout the summer.

Joe Barber, who led the garden’s construction, reflected on the calming impact of the work. He described how being outside and helping something grow can offer peace, purpose, and a deep sense of accomplishment.

In the fall, the garden’s harvest will serve as the backbone of an eight-week culinary arts program hosted at the Student Union. Teens will use the fresh ingredients to cook meals, learning life skills while continuing the conversation around wellness and mental health.

Dr. Matthew Rosario, founder and CEO of ClearHorizons, emphasized the garden’s deeper impact. “Gardening teaches responsibility, teamwork, and patience. For youth struggling with anxiety or grief, it’s a way to process feelings without pressure. It’s a reminder that with care and time, growth happens.”

But the vision doesn’t stop there.

On August 16, the Student Union and the surrounding park will come alive with a community block party designed to reignite old-school neighborhood spirit. Hosted by Reaching Out Now and Clear Horizons, the free event will feature games like tug-of-war and hopscotch, live music, karaoke, and a cookout-style menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and watermelon.

“We wanted to create something beyond the typical back-to-school drive,” Rosario said. “This is about joy. About laughter. About reminding people they’re not alone.”

Alongside the fun, the block party will also support a clothing drive for Warren County DSS, inviting attendees to bring new or gently used clothes for local children in need.

Barber noted that the event is designed to be inclusive and stress-free: “No entry fees. No pressure. Just a day for families to show up, be present, and feel supported.”

The Student Union, now home to leadership camps, color-splat art days, and the upcoming culinary lab, has been freshly renovated and is open to students in grades 8 through 12. Membership costs just $25 a year, and at the block party, 25 memberships will be given away for free, courtesy of Clear Horizons. Discounts will also be offered in September and October.

“Our goal is to make this space accessible to every student,” said Barber. “If cost is an issue, we’ll work with families. What matters is participation, not payment.”

As the summer unfolds, the Harlee Hire Garden will continue to grow, both as a living memorial and a symbol of what can bloom when a community comes together. For those involved, it serves as a reminder that healing doesn’t always begin in a clinic. Sometimes, it starts with a seed, a shovel, and a few hands in the dirt.

And sometimes, healing looks like a tomato plant stretching toward the sun.