On Saturday, October 10, 2026, over 150 volunteers came together to help rebuild the outdoor garden spaces at John F. Mendoza Elementary School in Las Vegas. Volunteers came from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, JustServe, Grace Baptist, Christian Central, as well as Mendoza Elementary School staff and students. Home Depot provided volunteers, financial and material support for the project and joined Green our Planet in replanting the garden. Vista Rock donated 44 tons of chat (crushed siliceous rock) and Albertsons provided financial and material support.
“It’s an awesome project for our community,” said Jeremy Mangum, first counselor in the Las Vegas Nevada East Stake presidency. “It’s a chance for everyone to get together.”
JustServe specialist Rod Hicken attends church just up the street from Mendoza, and his children attended the school when they were younger. While driving past regularly, he felt inspired that the school garden area might need some help.
“Our main goal was to turn this into an outdoor classroom for the school,” Hicken explained. “It’s been very exciting for us.”
The garden area, originally built in 2017, provides a space for children to learn from a farmer about fruits, vegetables, flowering plants and pollinators. It also lets teachers elect to hold day-to-day classes outside. Over time (and a large construction project as the school grew) the garden area was in need of attention.
“This project is adding the beauty and function back to this space so that all of our students can experience learning outside in the natural environment,” said Mendoza Principal Rebecka Christensen. She said that students will be able to have math classes outside, read outside, and participate in fun STEM activities in the outdoor areas.
Volunteers shoveled and raked all 44 tons of ground cover, built benches, put together the new white board, painted a mural for students, and painted river rocks for the “river of kindness” planned for the space.
“For us, being a part of the community and giving back is one of our core values,” said Home Depot store manager Natasha DeLeon, who is also a District Community Captain who helps plan, organize, and manage volunteer projects for Home Depot. “Today is a perfect opportunity for us to do that. It’s definitely very rewarding for our teams and our associates and living our values.”
Millie Mangum, a senior at Las Vegas High School, designed and helped paint the mural for the backdrop of the garden area.
“I had so much fun designing it,” Millie Mangum said. “I love art, and it gave me the opportunity to have creative freedom. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, being out here helps me share my light with others, feel the love that Jesus has for others, and embody it in my work.”
“This is what the Savior would do,” said Stake President Ryan Bowen. “He would come here, and He would help these people. This is our community. We love them. We want to help them, and we want to be like the Savior.”
