Approximately 40 volunteers gathered yesterday at our annual spring planting at the Edgewood Community Garden located on the grounds of DC Parks and Recreation, Edgewood Recreation Center. Upon finishing, we had cleaned the entire picnic area, planted, and covered our 10 raised garden beds. Pictures of the garden planting and clean up are included.
Around 3pm that day, college aged students external to the Edgewood community started to arrive at the picnic and garden area for the popularly advertised Dreams Never Die (DND) organization that was established by Howard University (HU) students (but in no way affiliated or supported by HU) "DRANKNIX II"
party cause we down for whatever food, drinks and lio provided party. Approximately 500-700 people came to this party and trampled on our garden beds and left the premises trashed and damaged. Pictures of the party and the condition the site was left as of this morning are included in this email as well.
We are asking for your assistance to help restore the garden. Considering that the garden is free and open to the public, we rely on generous donation from private individuals to sustain our efforts. We had available and spent nearly $400 for this growing season. We want to restore the garden, but we do not have any more money to replace the flowers, seeds and seedlings we lost.
Please consider donating any amount (even $5 will go a long way!) you can today so we can begin planning for our restoration event. Your gift is tax-deductible and will be of great help in taking the next steps to restore and beautify the area again.
You can donate to the garden by clicking on
this link (www.edgewooddc.org) and then locate the "Donate Now" button (please ensure that you include in your donation comment section "Edgewood Community Garden"). You can also send a check, that is written out to the Friends of Edgewood Recreation Center,
to:
Karin Bleeg
PO BOX 25172
Washington, DC 20027
Thank you for all of your supportive emails, phone calls, Facebook posts and positive energy you're sending our way now, but most of all for all you have given us since the beginning of this adventure.