Theft Shut Down Community Garden-Let's Help Reopen

For the past 12 years, Padre Plaza Success Garden has been a model of achievement, demonstrating how one man's intention to lift himself up and engage his hard-pressed Mott Haven/The Bronx neighbors can transform an abandoned, blighted plot of land into a vibrant, life-affirming community garden and magnet for inclusive activities. 

Bronx News Short Segment Aired December 10, 2019 

Michael Young, bucking the odds of a devastating health diagnosis that forced him to end his carpentry business, harnessed his can-do skills by teaching himself the art of planting a garden, then building up a membership of willing locals to participate in his community-building project.  Young placed his own construction tools in the service of the garden -  tools that all the garden members have relied upon as well.  These tools helped create seasonal set pieces including  Haunted Houses for each Halloween and  Winter Wonderland Celebrations. 

Winter Wonderland display at the Garden's stage 

Lining up for scares in the Halloween Haunted House that Young constructs each year

"Each One Teach One" Mentoring program that Michael Young oversees at the Garden

This Winter, Young was hit twice by robbers who in October stole his generator and November his entire power tool set.  This senseless act has effectively closed down the garden, for Young barely makes ends meet and cannot afford to replace his inventory. The garden depends upon his leadership and skills.  The Padre Plaza Success Garden  has been the essential pulse and unifying force for an otherwise hard-pressed neighborhood.

Michael Young's Mentoring Program Using his tools

Spring Opening - inviting the neighborhood and local precinct

Making a contribution to fund replacement of the stolen generator and tool set will not only restore Young's sense of purpose and well-being, it  helps restore dignity and a 12-year running community life force to his neighbors.

To show our gratitude, we will invite anyone who can make it to the garden's  Spring Opening to honor the contributors as well as to name each donor on a handmade plaque that will be displayed in the garden.

What your Donation Will Do:                                                                             How Many Needed to be Replaced

$10     general contribution
$25     general contribution
$50     one Sawzall or battery operated electric hand sander or a                2 Sawzalls / 2 sanders 
              battery charger for hand sander                                                                               2 chargers                                                                  
$75     gets us close to one power electric Circular Saw or                                                    3
              one hand grinder                                                                                                                               2
$100  battery for hand sander                                                                                                                2                                                 
$150  one multi-purpose Jigsaw or one battery operated Circular saw                        2
$250  one heavy duty hammer drill                                                                                                     4 
$300  one heavy duty battery operated Dewalt drill  or one leaf blower       2   drills / 1 blower                             
$700  4000 watt gas powered generator                                                                                         1

any denomination is welcome!