I'd like to introduce you to Anna.
She is an unemployed single mother of three children living in a low-income housing project in South Los Angeles. She wants her children to eat healthy food but the closest place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables is 40 blocks away. It takes her 50 minutes to get there on two buses. She doesn’t have a car. It is more convenient and cheaper to buy burgers each night from the fast food restaurant two blocks from her home.
Last year, Anna found a community garden and it changed her family’s life. She leases a 10 foot x 4 foot plot at the garden for $5 per month. She not only found a place walking-distance from her home to grow fresh, organic fruit and vegetables but she reduced her expenses by $150 per month by growing her own food.
Anna also found an extended family in the gardening community. Her children love getting dirty in the garden while they are learning to grow their own food. They are all healthier and have lost weight, and Anna is relieved that her 14-year old son has found an older male mentor in the garden, who is like a father to him and has helped him stay out of the gang lifestyle.
Los Angeles Community Garden Council believes that every person has the right to grow healthy food in their neighborhood.
Founded in 1998, we manage 42 community gardens and offer workshops, community organizing, and gardening advice to more than 125 community gardens in Los Angeles County. We currently serve more than 6,000 families. We have waitlists for all of our community gardens and are constantly looking for affordable land where we can provide more gardening space.
This Giving Tuesday, you can give a family like Anna's the chance to grow their own food! It costs $150 to provide a raised bed, filled with soil, and seedlings. We are extremely grateful for gifts of all amounts and encourage you to make a secure donation at www.lagardencouncil.org today.
Sincerely,
Julie Beals
Executive Director
Los Angeles Community Garden Council
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