POST FALLS - A community garden has helped Kylie Hancock grow out of her shell and help those in need.

"I was kind of a shy person because I didn't grow up around a lot of people," the senior at New Vision High said.

Mark Jones, the garden's organizer, said the power of the garden isn't just assisting area seniors and others who could use fresh fruits and vegetables.

It's making a difference in the lives of students such as Hancock.

"Kylie has really come into her own," Jones said. "She was one of the inaugural students involved in the layout of the garden three years ago. She was a bashful kid to start with, but after a couple years of participating in the garden, she's grown a life of her own."

Hancock has been instrumental in diversifying the garden's activities.

Last year she led an apple juice project in which 2,000 pounds of apples were made into juice after a processor was borrowed from an area farmer. Students made their own labels and did the bottling themselves at the senior center.

She's also assisted with a "farm to schools" project in which produce from the garden made its way to five schools for students.

Hancock worked with the school district's former food services director Annie Mader to make the program a reality.

"Gardening has always been a passion of mine; I'm a nature-type of person," Hancock said. "I helped out my grandma a lot."

Hancock said she also enjoyed reupholstering chairs at the senior center with fellow students last year after the facility was flooded by water from a broken pipe.

This year Hancock is active in promoting the garden's activities. She has compiled a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos of the garden and presented it to groups at the senior center and local garden club.

Hancock said a few years ago she would have never thought about speaking in front of groups.

"New Vision and the garden have helped me be myself and more comfortable around everybody else," she said.

Hancock said she also started a pumpkin patch of her own this year. She plans to incorporate the gourds into school projects or wherever they're needed and wanted.

In her spare time, Hancock enjoys reading, drawing, picking mushrooms and listening to music.

Her mother Sharon said Kylie has always been a good kid, has done well in school and enjoys giving to others. But it's Kylie's leadership that has impressed Sharon the most lately.

"My kids grew up a lot different than most kids," Sharon said. "We lived in the mountains a couple years and they were home-scholed a lot. They weren't into a lot of kids' stuff. New Vision has allowed them to go more at their own pace."

Kylie will graduate with her sister Sierra, also a New Vision student.

"I'm thankful that both of them will graduate because I never did," Sharon said. "I was more into working than going to school."

Jones said it has been a pleasure watching Kylie "glow with confidence."

"She's grown into quite the leader," Jones said.