For several years, the owner of a greenhouse in Tiverton has been doing all he can to give back to the community that supports him. Leo Teixeira has owned "Leo's Greenhouse" for about 32 years.
"I've been probably through 60,000 pounds of pumpkins so far this year already," he said. "We do a lot of mums, and corn stalks too. When I need them, I go cut them. We also do a lot of straw."
Whether it is lowering prices down for families in need, donations, or delivery, he does it all and for the past five years, in spring and fall, he supports Tiverton schools by donating pumpkins and flowers or whatever else they may need to keep their schools festive.
"My parent-teacher organization works with Leo frequently to get donations for the schools to beautify them during the fall and spring season," said Susan Craven, the principal of Tiverton High School. "I think he's very generous and kind and I can't thank him enough for everything he does for our schools. I think he understands that schools have success based on community partnerships and we attribute our success to those partnerships and Leo as well."
This year, Teixeira donated most of the pumpkins, mums, cornstalks, and hay that have been put up at every entrance to the high school and in surrounding areas.
"They come in, ask for pumpkins and corn stalks to make some displays," he said. "This year, over at Pocasset Elementary School, we gave them about 250 pumpkins so all of the kids could have a pumpkin for their patch. If they do purchase something, I give them something more of the same value, over the value. It just feels good to help someone else."
"I get cards from the kids, cookies from the kids, you'd be surprised. They bake me pies and stuff, it actually makes it all worthwhile," he said. "I don't feel like, 'Oh, I gave money away.' It's like, 'No, I did a good thing and that's the way it should be.' Unfortunately, not everybody thinks that way, but that's the way it should be. Giving back a little bit. When you're helping kids out, it means a lot."
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