Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Flavor Flav

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

Justin's Frog Project

When we moved into the 9th ward one of the first things we noticed was the lack of real grocery stores in the area. Sure there were corner stores with very basic food options, but there were no fresh fruits and vegetables and most of the food options were bad quality and made with unhealthy and processed ingredients. <br /><br />Even when we went to local food co-ops in the area the locally grown produce was outrageously over priced and inaccessible to a large portion of the community in our neighborhood. <br /><br />Andy and I had a passion for growing fresh fruits and vegetables and grew our own curbside plot on and abandoned bit of sidewalk when we lived in Los Angeles. It was so fun to take an abandoned plot and provide fresh food to friends and neighbors instead of having a vacant and overgrown area. <br /><br />We were inspired by Ron Finley and his push to allow growing on city owned curbside plots through "guerilla gardening" in the Los Angeles area. After seeing the lack of fresh food options in Upper 9th when we moved here to New Orleans we decided to take action through creating a community garden space to bring knowledge about how to grow your own food and also provide it to residents in the area. <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/55007612_1614701610238875_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="55007612_1614701610238875_r.jpeg" /><br /> Since then, our garden has grown.  When  the pandemic hit and there was a lack of groceries and we saw the restrictions hurting small businesses and Black businesses in particular in our area, we decided to start up a farmer's market that features Black farmers, growers, and makers as the majority.  A safe space for them to be able to sell their food(s) and network.  The market has been such a hit that we decided to open a fresh food market a few blocks away in a more permanent space.<br /><br />This is where you come in. We owe everything this market has become to those of you who frequent the markets and support these small businesses and we'd like to see you be a part of our expansion. While we can't do a full on grocery store yet, we would like to establish a permanent venue where neighbors can buy from local farmers, cooks, bakers and food entrepreneurs every week instead of only twice a month.  <br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/55007612_1614701443920652_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="55007612_1614701443920652_r.jpeg" />The farmer's market will continue to take place at our garden twice a month, this is just an extension for that.  To make this fresh market a reality, we need <br />1. A fence around the parameter: Around $3000<br />2. Displays for the produce $1000<br />3. A security system $1000<br />4.  We will be building permanent vendor stalls, 8 total.  My husband will build them with some local workers, but we need the supplies $3000<br /><br />We plan to keep our vendor costs low ($25) so that people in the community can continue to be vendors.<br /><br />If you want to see more of what we do, we are on Facebook and Instagram as Barcelo Gardens.  I have also decided that anyone who wants to donate over $500, that I will name a food stall after you, your business, or in honor of a person of your choice. <br /><br />We thank you all for helping us be able to make this a reality!

Building a Fresh Market in a Food Desert

<div>Update (09/19/2024) : <strong>My TED Talk is Live! </strong>
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<div>I’m thrilled to announce that my TED Talk, "A Street Librarian's Quest to Bring Books to Everyone", is now live! In this talk, I share my journey and the innovative ways I am working to increase access to books, starting in Baltimore's book deserts.
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<div><strong>Why You Should Listen:</strong>
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<div><strong>Advocacy for Book Equity:</strong> Discover how my tireless efforts are dedicated to book equity and the transformative power of literature.
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<div><strong>Innovative Initiatives:</strong> Learn about my groundbreaking initiatives, including Streetcorner Storytimes and pioneering free book vending machines, which are making a significant impact on young minds.
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<div><strong>How You Can Get Involved: </strong>At the end of the talk, I provide practical advice and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a street librarian themselves. It’s an empowering guide for those who want to make a difference in their communities through literature.
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<div>You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xfJy96HJqo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch the full TED Talk here</a>. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me to share it.
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<div><strong>More Exciting News: We’ve Found Our Trolley!</strong>
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<div>I’m beyond excited to share that we’ve found the perfect trolley to enhance our outreach and bring books directly to the communities that need them most! After visiting three different trolleys, we’ve chosen a special one that will help us make a bigger impact.
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<div>To make this vision a reality, we need to secure the trolley with a down payment. Your support is crucial in helping us get this trolley on the road and in action!
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<div>Check out the video of the trolley we’ve selected below!
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<div><strong> Your contributions will directly support our efforts to expand our reach and bring more books to more people.</strong>
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<div>Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Together, we can make a significant impact!
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<div> Our story begins with a vision: a colorful trolley rolling through neighborhoods, carrying the gift of literature to young minds eager for adventure. This book haven on wheels aims to break down barriers and provide access to books that traditional libraries can't reach.
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<div>Three pillars of our project ensure that every child, regardless of where they live or their family's resources, has access to the boundless worlds contained within books. With free book vending machines, we plant seeds of adventure in the concrete jungle, offering stories to those who might walk by without a second glance. Our pop-up bookstores create temporary sanctuaries of literature, beckoning the community to pause and revel in the joy of reading. Meanwhile, Stoop Storytime knits the fabric of our neighborhoods tighter, fostering a communal spirit of sharing and storytelling.
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<div>As the wheels of the Book Trolley turn, so do the pages of countless stories waiting to be discovered. Imagine children laughing, learning, and immersing themselves in the enchanting world of books right outside their doorstep.
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<div>But every magical journey requires a bit of help from our community heroes. This is where you come in! By supporting our GoFundMe campaign, you become a part of this incredible tale. <strong>Your contribution will help us bring the Book Trolley to life, ensuring that no child is left without the joy and knowledge found in the pages of a good book.</strong>
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<div>Join us on this adventure! Together, let's write a story that transforms communities, one book at a time.
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<div>Follow us on social:
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<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/storybookmaze" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> (@storybookmaze)
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Storybook Maze Book Mobile

Lili Strasser

<div><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/2026-wildfire-relief-fund" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>2026 Fund Here</strong></a>
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<div><strong>About the fund</strong>
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<div>Wildfires that strike quickly and burn out of control have become increasingly common in the western United States. These fires claim lives, destroy homes and property, and expose communities to harmful smoke. Each year, hundreds of people create fundraisers on the GoFundMe platform asking for help in the wake of a destructive wildfire.
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<div>This fund was created to provide direct relief to people in need after a wildfire. Your tax-deductible donation will ensure this fund can support as many people as possible as soon as a disaster strikes. We send critical cash grants directly to people who need help recovering from the impact of a wildfire.
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<div><strong>Who we help</strong>
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<div>We deliver cash grants directly to those impacted by domestic (U.S.) wildfires. We grant to verified individuals who qualify and are fundraising for themselves or on behalf of someone else. We may also provide grants to fundraisers benefiting small businesses and community relief efforts, or to vetted nonprofits coordinating long-term recovery.
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<div><strong>Why donate to this fund?</strong>
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<div>We provide swift support (within a day or two) to individuals and communities who are directly impacted by a wildfire, supporting as many people as we can.
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<div>Donations to this fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law. We’ll send you a receipt after you donate.
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<div><strong>Stay informed of our impact</strong>
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<div>We’re deeply committed to operating with transparency and strive for maximum impact. We post regular updates to this fund which are emailed directly to donors.
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<div><strong>Thank you</strong>
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<div>Thank you for supporting this critical relief fund. Every single donation is meaningful, no matter how small. Together, we can show up for people in times of crisis and let them know they are not alone.
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<div>For more information, <a href="https://www.gofundme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GoFundMe.org-2025-Wildfire-Relief-Fund.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">click here to review a one-pager</a> about this fund.
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<div>To donate via DAF, please select the DAF Pay option as the payment method once you click 'donate now' on this page. If you would like to donate to this Fund via stock, ACH/wire, crypto, check, or by Private Foundation please visit our <a href="https://www.gofundme.org/off-platform-donations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offline donation page</a> and we will add your donation to this fund as an offline donation so that your contribution is recognized on this Fund page.
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<div><a href="https://www.gofundme.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>GoFundMe</em></a><em>.</em><a href="https://www.gofundme.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>org</em></a><em> is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-2279757) that works to swiftly mobilize donations raised to support individuals and communities impacted by crises, natural disasters, and social inequalities. We accept tax-deductible donations from donors into funds created for a specific philanthropic purpose. From these funds, we issue grants to charitable classes of individuals, nonprofit organizations, and charitable projects.</em>
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<div><em>Donations to this fund are tax-deductible to the extent permissible by U.S. law. Money will be given to verified charitable needs at the discretion of GoFundMe.org.</em>
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2025 Wildfire Relief Fund

Community

Social advocacy

Disaster and crisis relief

Lili Strasser

Lili Strasser

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About me