WALLACE SAPP, right, shown here in a photo posted by the online blog “Yinzercation.” He died in late March.
Wallace Sapp loved the students at Manchester Elementary School, and they loved him back.
His wife, Lisa Freeman, told KDKA-TV (2) he would mentor 270 kids there each year.
He and his wife had created a garden in Manchester in 2011, to work with the students there who faced food insecurity.
“That garden was meant to be an outdoor learning space for our kids that didn’t know that fresh vegetables came from the ground, that eggs came from chickens,” said Freeman, to KDKA-TV. “To give them an opportunity to nurture and care about something other than themselves.”
LISA FREEMAN, right, directs others at the new garden being constructed on Juniata Street, Manchester. (Photo by Diane Neely)
They were in the process of building a larger garden behind Manchester Elementary, at 1426 Juniata St., but in late March, Sapp died from cancer. He was 70.
Still, on April 3, Sapp’s legacy lived on, as people, including kids, came out to create more magic at this new garden, a “day of celebration,” as it was dubbed. Sapp is believed to be the first Black farmer in the Manchester area.
Among those who came out to support were Pa. Lt. Governor John Fetterman, and his wife, Gisele. They were fond of the work Sapp and his wife were doing in Manchester. Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf awarded Sapp and Freeman a “COVID-19 Fresh Food Financing Initiative” grant of $13,784 to continue their good work in the Manchester community.
LISA FREEMAN, center, wife of Wallace Sapp, at a “Day of Celebration” at the new garden being built next to Manchester Elementary School. (Photo by Diane Neely)
“He had a million-dollar smile,” said Freeman of Sapp, on KDKA-TV. “I could see his smile just as bright, and he would be so happy.”
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