The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), the organization that contributes year-round impact to the Greater Philadelphia area in the form of community gardening, tree plantings, jobs training, vacant land stabilization, and public landscapes, is participating in the global May 5, 2020 #GivingTuesdayNow initiative. Normally, GivingTuesday is celebrated the first Tuesday in December, but due to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19, the May #GivingTuesdayNow global day of giving aims to provide a new opportunity to celebrate generosity and unity across the U.S.
PHS’s Chief Development Officer, Nancy Boutté Finn states, “PHS works with thousands of gardeners and volunteers to carry forward its programs that advance the health and well-being of our region. This essential work is needed now more than ever. COVID-19 has amplified our region’s need to safely prepare community gardens to grow fresh produce, maintain public landscape and community greening projects, and train formerly incarcerated people for outdoor landscaping jobs. #GivingTuesdayNow is an opportunity for us to raise funds to grow and distribute seedlings, prepare for the eventuality that we can resume our tree planting, and our programs can safely be held outdoors.”
This year’s #GivingTuesdayNow will support PHS’s efforts in four impact areas: increasing access to fresh food; creating healthier living environments; building deeper social connections; and growing economic opportunity. PHS serves 150 community gardens annually with hundreds of thousands of seedlings to grow fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to share with neighbors and families in need. PHS’s LandCare program currently cleans, greens, and maintains more than 12,000 vacant lots in Philadelphia, leading to decreased gun violence and lower feelings of depression. Deeper social connections are formed through PHS’s broad array of programs and events, as well as volunteer opportunities for individuals and corporations. More than 125 graduates of PHS’s workforce development program have found new economic opportunities working in the landscaping industry and other horticulture-focused businesses.
Generosity can help alleviate the isolation and loneliness that many people feel during times of crisis. #GivingTuesdayNow is an opportunity to support PHS’s efforts to work safely in its seedling and greenhouse growing efforts, while virtually educating gardeners in the areas of food growing, tree care, youth activities, and more. Donations range from as low as $50 to help purchase 100 tomato seedlings for community gardens, to $100 to remove trash and debris from a vacant lot, to larger amounts that provide a set of tools for a neighborhood to care for their trees. Donations to support PHS’s in this cause can be made here below.
Year-round opportunities to support PHS’s programs and activities include joining PHS as a Contributing Member for just $35; in addition, donations of any amount help support the organization’s efforts to advance the health and well-being of people in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Created in 2012 as a day to do good, #GivingTuesday has grown into a year-round global generosity movement with leaders who have launched more than 200 community campaigns across the U.S. and national movements in more than 60 countries. On the last #GivingTuesday in December 2019, millions of people were inspired to volunteer, perform countless acts of kindness, and donate their voices, time, money, and goods.
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society100 N. 20th Street