Hi everyone, I'm Nicole, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Garden of Joy Culinary Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For my birthday this year, I am asking for help to support the kids I work with. They are bright, funny, creative, and full of incredible talent, but they are also growing up in areas where gun violence is persistent, and every day they are put at risk. They need a safe place to go after school, and we are cultivating that space!

We provide them with free programs in gardening and cooking, along with supplemental activities that teach art, movement, and mindfulness. We cook together and share meals. We listen to them. We give them space to breathe and exist without fear. Without financial support, these programs will not survive.

For my 23rd birthday, I am trying to raise $10,000. This will:

These kids deserve to come through our doors and know they are safe, fed, and cared for.

Please help me give them that safety. Your support can make the difference between a child being left in danger, or a child being inside learning, creating, and eating a warm meal.

Thank you for your support!!! It means everything to me.