Help Us Grow Food, Grow Community in 2026
At Pleasant Playground Community Garden (PPCG), we believe that access to fresh, healthy food is a right—not a privilege. Since opening in 2020, our garden has served as a vital green space where neighbors come together to grow food, build community, and reconnect with the land.
As we prepare for the 2026 growing season, we’re asking for your support to help us continue—and expand—this important work.
Why We’re Fundraising
Your contribution will directly support three critical areas of our work:
1️⃣ Sustaining the Garden: Daily Operations & Programming
Running a community garden takes more than seeds and soil. Your support helps cover:
- Garden maintenance and infrastructure
- Tools, soil, compost, and growing supplies
- Educational workshops and hands-on trainings
- Community events that bring neighbors together
These resources allow us to provide a welcoming, functional, and educational space where people of all ages can learn how to grow their own food and care for the environment.
2️⃣ Expanding Our Free Produce Box Program (Serving 50 Families)
Food access is at the heart of what we do.
In 2026, we are expanding our biweekly Free Produce Box Program to serve 50 families in our community. While we grow a significant amount of food on-site, no single garden can produce everything needed for a balanced, nutritious box.
That’s where your support comes in.
Funds will help us:
- Purchase supplemental produce items (fruits, root vegetables, pantry staples, etc.)
- Ensure each box contains a well-rounded mix of fresh, culturally relevant, and nutrient-dense foods
- Maintain consistency and reliability so families can depend on these boxes every two weeks
This program is more than food distribution—it’s about dignity, health, and food sovereignty. It ensures families have access not just to calories, but to nourishment.
3️⃣ Investing in Youth: Summer Garden Assistant Program
For the past three years, our Summer Garden Assistant Program has provided paid opportunities for local teens to work, learn, and grow. Through this program, youth gain:
- Hands-on experience in urban agriculture
- Job readiness and responsibility
- Education in food systems, environmental stewardship, and health
- A safe, positive space during the summer months
Previously, this program was funded through the USDA 2501 Program aimed at socially disadvantaged population. Unfortunately, due to recent policy changes, that funding has been cut.
We are committed to keeping this program alive.
Your donations will help us:
Provide stipends to participating teens
Ensure equitable access to meaningful summer employment
Continue building pathways for youth leadership, skill-building, and community engagement
This isn’t just a summer job, it’s an investment in the next generation of growers, leaders, and change-makers.