Baltimore garden cathartic for women, kids in shelter

WBAL TV 11 News
September 22, 2016

Click here to see the video.

If you have a garden, you know how therapeutic it can be, and now residents of a shelter for women and children in east Baltimore are finding that out firsthand.

The garden is in the most unlikely spot behind a homeless shelter for women and children in an economically-depressed neighborhood in east Baltimore.

Kathleen Flahive is a volunteer with First Unitarian Church of Baltimore.

“We saw how great the need was, that the kids —  there was no beauty, there was nothing green. There was just rubble and trash, and that’s what this is about, new life coming up out of the rubble,” Flahive said.

That is why volunteers with First Unitarian Church of Baltimore and Civic Works have worked so hard to create this garden for Dayspring Shelter families. They’ve taken an uncared for lot and turned it into something special.

“It’s one of the worst lots I’ve ever seen in my time working in Baltimore. The soil was so bad we broke an auger bit in it,” Civic Works volunteer coordinator Jenny Katz said.

“It’s been really peaceful. My kids love coming out here. There’s tons of stuff for them to pick so they’re always coming out here picking some kind of vegetables,” Jessica Chastain said.

“I has been a godsend for folks that have no place to live (and) are reuniting with their children,” said Pamela Talabis, executive director of Dayspring.

On Oct. 1, Civic Works is hosting a day of service at 18 sites, but people have to sign up in order to volunteer.

“There’s tree planting, vacant lot cleanups, park cleanups. There’s a few indoor options as well, kid-friendly options, and you can sign up at our website civicworks.com,” Katz said.

Creating new life where spirits are growing as fast as anything planted in the ground.