Ripples of Hope - Harvesting Seeds of Hope

At A Glance

Location: 

Dedham, Massachusetts

Primary Issue Area:

  • Food

Active since:

2014

Core volunteers:

4

Community Size:

100

Our Purpose

The Harvesting Seeds of Hope inititative is a program which is managed by Ripples of Hope a registered 501(c)3 in Dedham, MA.  The Harvesting Seeds of Hope program was created to provide tenants of Pine Street Inn-Paul Sullivan House the opportunity to learn the basics of gardening and growing fresh vegetables to promote healthier lifestyle choices and an opportunity to interact with their community.Program Success Metrics:
  • Resident participation in ongoing maintenance (weeding, watering) and weekly community art program
  • Consumption of produce by residents
  • Recreational use of landscaped spaces
 Highlights to Date:
  • 300+ volunteers have have come together for over 1,000 service hours to transform and sustain the community garden
  • Volunteer Saturdays are underway with 50+ lbs. of greens already harvested with the tenants
  • Artwork created with tenants are sprinkled throughout the building
  • 4-8 Tenant Volunteers have been regular participants in the program in partnership with Green City Growers & Ripples to sustain the project
  • Tenants continually remark about how much they love their new green space
  • Staff at Pine Street have been overwhelmed by the amazing makeover and the positive demeanor of the tenants who participate in the program
  • Frank Crandall, (volunteer – landscape designer) commented, "The project has exceeded all expectations.  Not only did we accomplish a great deal over the duration of workdays, but we met amazing people; volunteers and residents."
  • A new resident volunteer Money Williams was moved to share a poem during the end of day reflection circle
  • Tenant Miguel shared, "I have learned things that were not even in my imagination"
  • Many tenants share that they go to the garden on a regular basis to pick vegetables to eat that day
  • Neighbors of the garden are enjoying the revitalized space and use it as a tranquil place to gather
  • Tenant Loretta has lost over 21 pounds since the project launch in May and attributes much of the weightloss to the increase of fresh greens in her diet
  • Tenants are loving the fresh kale, lettuce, collars, tomatoes, string beans and herbs
  ABOUT RIPPLES OF HOPERipples of Hope is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization which brings families, communities and leaders together with the understanding that we are more alike than we are different. We maintain a philosophy of Philanthropy in Action by collaborating with local non-profits and community leaders who express a desire to build upon their existing strengths and are empowered to make a difference in their own communities.  Through partnerships, transformational and sustainable service projects are developed then completed by Ripples families working side-by-side with community residents and leaders.ABOUT PINE STREET HOUSINGPine Street Houses more than 800 formerly homeless men and women at 36 residences, offering on-site support to help them maintain housing and regain their greatest level of independence.  The Paul Sullivan House on Green Street in Jamaica Plain is home to 55 men and women.