Local sales associates from U.S. Cellular and the Washington Head Start staff and students joined forces to celebrate Earth Day Thursday.

The associates purchased the flowers, soil and a birdbath and with the help from the kids at Head Start, planted the flowers to promote Earth Day. The flowerbed was placed in the front of the school on Flanders Filter Road, where the morning sun shines the most.

During Thursday’s activities, school principal Helen Weatherington and teaching assistant Alethia Moore showed the children what kind of work goes into planting flowers.

Weatherington and Moore, along with U.S. Cellular associates, tilled the area in front of the school, while also laying the topsoil, mulch and brick lining the flowerbed.

“The children can learn about planting and what the process is,” Weatherington said. “It is always a learning process for the children because they need to learn a plant needs the sun, water and needs preparation.”

Many of the children jumped at the chance to help the sales associates plant and water the flowers. U.S. Cellular employees showed the children where the flowers went and why it was important to bury the roots.

“It’s hard, it was fun and it was great,” Head Start student Kimora Willis said. “I learned about planting and how to pour water.”

U.S. Cellular, a Chicago-based company, has committed resources to communities like Washington by volunteering with groups and children where their stores are located.

“Nationwide we (U.S. Cellular) do what is called ‘Project Green,’” said Latoya Moore, a U.S. Cellular associate. “The Earth Day project is where we help kids to beautify communities.”

Earth Day is celebrated every April 22, and began in 1970 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson organized an environmental teach-in. Nelson later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.