Jewish Home Builds Children’s Garden

At 83, Victoria Shaw welcomes anything that keeps her young--especially the presence of children.

A resident of the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging, Shaw loves knitting and sewing, she said, but nothing makes her happier than hearing the laughter of children.

The needs of Shaw and other residents inspired the leaders of the home to try to build a children’s garden at the home’s Grancell Village campus. A groundbreaking ceremony for the garden took place Sunday.

The project began about two years ago with residents and children collaborating to paint tiles for the garden. So far, the project has attracted a lot of support, including a tile donated by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, said Rhonda Goldsmith, director of the Los Angeles Sephardic Home for the Aging, a division of the Jewish Home for the Aging.

Goldsmith said she hopes to raise $750,000 with the project.

People interested in painting a tile can make donations of varying sums, the proceeds of which would benefit the home. So far, a little more than 1,000 tiles have been completed. “We’re halfway there,” Goldsmith said.

The garden is expected to be completed by next spring, she said.

“It’s going to be a beautiful place of serenity for children to visit,” Goldsmith added.

For more information, call (818) 774-3330.