HIGHLAND PARK — On two recent Saturdays, an overgrown slice of seemingly useless earth was transformed into what will become a useful, edible garden.

Located on the perimeter of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ Highland Park Family Resource Center, 840 N. Avenue 66, the garden is a joint effort of students serving on Hathaway-Sycamores’ Youth Leadership Council along with adolescents participating in Hathaway-Sycamores’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program.

Working alongside the youngsters have been health and nutrition educators from Hathaway-Sycamores’ Promotoras Comunitarias Program, as well as more than two dozen employees of Pasadena investment-services firm Western Asset Management. Western Asset installed the watering system and provided supplies for the project.

The collaborative, green-thumb project — which involved weeding the overgrown plot, preparing the soil, installing a timed irrigation system, and planting fruits and vegetables was designed to give the young participants a hands-on opportunity to experience the rewards of volunteerism and making a positive difference in their community.

For 17-year-old Andrew Coronel, who attends Franklin High School and serves as treasurer of the Hathaway-Sycamores’ Youth Leadership Council, the project was definitely meaningful.

“I’m really proud of this project,” he said. “It builds courage and integrity when you volunteer for the community.”

And that spirit of volunteerism will continue, as members of the Youth Leadership Council have committed to provide ongoing maintenance of the garden.

Once the fruits and vegetables are ready to harvest, another benefit of the bounty will be realized. Educators with Hathaway-Sycamores’ Promotoras Comunitarias Program will use the garden produce in nutritional cooking classes that are offered for youngsters and adults through Hathaway-Sycamores’ Family Resource Center. Currently, some 180 such cooking classes are provided at the Family Resource Center and in 35 schools throughout Northeast Los Angeles.

As for Western Asset’s involvement in the project, Terri Hendler, manager of office services for the company, said, “We want to give back to organizations in the community. One of the parameters of our philanthropic outreach is working with organizations that help children.

“Hathaway-Sycamores is an agency that we have identified to support. This garden project is a way for our staff to get more involved with hands-on volunteering,” she added.