Maltby Helps Plant Seeds to a Healthy Diet at Garden Event

The Boys & Girls Club of Troy teamed up with Amway Saturday morning to dig deep and discover the roots of a healthy diet by building an organic garden.

With special guest former Detroit Red Wing Kirk Maltby on-hand, kids of all ages participated in learning about the right food choices.

As a former athlete, Maltby knows a thing or two about proper nutrition. He said that while some kids grow up to favor burgers and pizza, his favorite foods were always picked fresh from his family’s garden.

“It’s very important, especially when you see what’s available for people in general these days: quick and easy fast food,” Maltby said. “I think this is a great way to, kind of at least, get some sort of knowledge and hands-on of what it’s like to grow food and to reap the benefits of it.”

was picked as one of five nationwide clubs to receive a grant from Amway, one of the world’s largest direct selling businesses of nutrition products. Troy's garden is one of the first cultivated of many more planned under the program.

“Approximately 100 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country applied for this grant and we were one of the five lucky ones, which was a nice surprise,” said Steve Toth, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Troy.

The club averages about 125 to 300 students per day that take part in the after school and summer activities, Toth said. Along with 10 active summer programs, this event was the start of the club’s newest curriculum.

“The program were doing now, is just adding another element that now says we’ve got a great facility,” he said. “Kids are coming here, very positive and kids are coming here not just from Troy, but from nearby communities and we’ve always looked at trying to provide a diversity of experiences here.”

After the opening ceremonies and a nutritious breakfast, the enthusiastic members prepared to head outside and begin their green agenda. There were ready stations that included gardening fruit and vegetable beds, decorating take-home pots with strawberry seeds, a smoothie station, garden stick painting and more.

“I was looking forward to bringing home the strawberries,” said 9-year-old Liam Snell, who has been a Boys & Girls Club member for two years. “We’re hoping to plant them in our front yard so we can eat them.”

Kids weren’t the only ones enjoying the planting festivities. Troy City Council member Mary Kerwin said she is pleased with the knowledge the Boys & Girls Club has passed on to their youth.

“One adult who cares makes the life of the child,” Kerwin said. “That’s the key to success for them and here at the Boys & Girls Club today to see adults who care, who can interact with them, really will spur them to greatness.”