involvement in
the Gainesville Community
The garden's aim is to empower people through horticulture. The plants we grow also act as a food source for the shelter's kitchen. Most recently, we've planted kale, collards, and arugula!
Grace Grows
On Saturdays, you can find me at Grace Marketplace, a resource center for those experiencing homelessness. I volunteer in the garden, Grace Grows. I've tended to plants, weeded beds, and did carpentry projects to repurpose wood for plant beds.
Memorial Garden
As a Path to Purpose Fellow, I was encouraged to create deep connections with community partners that went past direct service through volunteering. After approaching Abigail Perret-Gentil about expanding the garden and its impact, we talked about her existing idea for a Memorial Garden that honored those who lost their lives to homelessness.
We started working together to make it a reality throughout the beginning of 2022. I applied my organizational and professional skills to new things I hadn't done before. I've applied for grants, created line-item budgets, drawn landscape plans, and more. I've also gained horticultural knowledge working with Abigail to select plants, visit local nurseries, and plant! It's a work in progress and I plan to work on this project long term, to make it flourish.
Flip through the photos to see progress from March 2022 to October 2022.
Community Weatherization Coalition
After learning about the high Energy Burden (percentage of household income spent on utility bills) that many face, I became an Energy Coach for the CWC. We perform free 'Home Energy Tune-Ups' with Gainesville residents, empowering the reduction of water and energy usage through low- and no-cost measures. This reduces energy bills, creates more informed homeowners, and has a measurable impact. The energy reduction also helps combat the climate crisis.
Day two of my three-day training to become an Energy Coach.
Food Waste Reduction & Recovery Initiative in Gainesville
In my first year in Gainesville (2021), I enjoyed the opportunity to try some great local restaurants while participating in a the City of Gainesville's initiative to recover and reduce food waste. I was a volunteer for their initiative to survey food generating businesses about their food waste. In doing so, I get to work towards a Zero Waste Gainesville as I eat around the city. There were nearly 500 businesses listed and I was just a small part of a team to survey them, but it was a great experience!