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<div>Join us in supporting Survivors of Gun Violence by sustaining a productive and safe garden space where this community can grieve, heal and enjoy the fresh air. The garden will have native plants including vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers planted and harvested by the community.
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<div>The Mercy Garden of Peace and Healing is a Neighborspace-protected and community-managed space, maintained by volunteers, the community and donations.
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<div>Mercy Garden of Peace and Healing is located in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago adjacent to the Mercy Housing apartments.
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<div>Mercy Housing is a leading affordable housing organization, working to eliminate homelessness and housing insecurity for low-income families, seniors, individuals, and people with disabilities.
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<div>Mercy Garden was acquired in August of 2022 and is a joint project between Mothers OnA Mission28 and NeighborSpace, with support from the Oak Park-Austin Area Moms Demand Action group.
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<div>This garden will be a space for healing circles, grief support gatherings, garden education sessions, vigils and a memorial space for victims and survivors. 
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<div>Growing food builds community. Caring for plants assists in healing grief. Given the food apartheid in the Austin community, growing fresh produce addresses the essential need for fresh food.
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<div>Your donation will help support the maintenance of the space and help facilitate many free community events and programs. Thank you in advance for your help in making this long-awaited project a success. <em>Empowing thru nature!</em>
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<div><strong><em>Here are a few photos....with your help it is only the beginning.</em></strong>
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<div><strong>Though your donation will be earmarked for use only by Mercy Garden for Peace and Healing, it will show up on your bank or credit card statement as a charge to NeighborSpace, the nonprofit land trust that protects Mercy Garden and over 100 other community gardens across Chicago. It is through NeighborSpace's non-profit status and fiscal agency that Mercy Garden will be able to use your tax-deductible donation.</strong>
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<div>More information about NeighborSpace: <a href="https://neighbor-space.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="http://neighbor-space.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://neighbor-space.org/</a></a>
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<div>NeighborSpace is the only nonprofit land trust in Chicago that preserves and sustains gardens on behalf of dedicated community groups. We support community gardens - through property ownership, insurance, water, stewardship, education, tool lending, project planning, fundraising support, troubleshooting and more - so that community groups can focus on gardening and their community-building vision, generating food, beauty, play, health and safety for their neighborhoods.
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<div>More information about Mercy House:
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<div><a href="https://www.impact.mercyhousing.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.impact.mercyhousing.org/about" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.impact.mercyhousing.org/about</a></a>
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<div>More information about Mothers OnA Mission28:
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<div><a href="https://www.mothersonamission28.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.mothersonamission28.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.mothersonamission28.org/</a></a>
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<div>More information about Moms Demand Action:
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<div><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://momsdemandaction.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://momsdemandaction.org/</a></a>
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Mercy Garden of Peace and Healing

Still $1,800 to go. Help us build momentum.