Volunteer

for community of the Tenderloin and SF as a whole. I have spent several mornings volunteering in the garden and have delighted in meeting others from the Tenderloin neighborhood and learning more about plants and healthy eating. Besides the opportunity of putting one’s hand in the dirt (recent research shows the micro-organisms in soil can help alleviate depression) and socializing with others, the fresh garden vegetable give-aways provide an important source of nutrition. The garden is my favorite area of the city. It’s beauty always lifts my mood whenever I pass by and continue my work in the Tenderloin. It would be a tragedy for the garden to be neglected. I urge you to ensure there is continued stewardship of the land and access to the garden. “

“As a resident in the neighborhood, I have found solace and inspiration in the oasis that is the Tenderloin People's Garden. In an area often overlooked and underserved, this garden stands as a testament to the beauty and unity that can flourish amidst challenging circumstances. The Tenderloin People's Garden isn't just a collection of plants; it's a symbol of peace and harmony in a neighborhood too often associated with chaos. Amidst the struggles with homelessness and crime that plague our community, this garden stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing the potential for transformation and renewal.

For me, this garden is a haven—a place where I can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life in the Tenderloin and find a moment of tranquility. It's where I've witnessed the power of community coming together to cultivate something beautiful. It's a testament to resilience and the human spirit. The volunteering opportunities in the garden have been instrumental in strengthening the bonds within our neighborhood. Through shared experiences of planting, nurturing, and tending to the garden, we've forged connections that transcend the barriers of our diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

I urge the City to prioritize the preservation and accessibility of the Tenderloin People's Garden. Let us continue to cultivate not only plants but also the sense of unity, peace, and resilience that this garden represents for our neighborhood.”

“… working with soil, and working to grow what we eat, an educational space where the community deserves, a space for community gathering, strengthening multiracial, multicultural, and multigenerational relationships, and healing from mental health and trauma. There are many people I have met in the garden who become my mentors, my friends, and my family. There are not many places like the TPG that exist in the city anymore as it gentrifies and grows.”

“When I learned about the closure of the garden I cried. I had been volunteering at the Garden for almost two years. The garden has been a place of refuge for me during a very difficult time in my life and helped me manage and heal myself. I made friends there and learned about gardening from the wonderful, knowledgeable Coordinators who made me feel welcome and appreciated. I looked forward to being in that rare special safe space in the heart of the gritty Civic Center, a rare place of calm, working with the plants and soil, nurturing the veggie beds which fed our neighbors.

I witnessed the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers and the bounty of our labor- organic vegetables which we would distribute to our low-income neighbors in an area with little access to healthy food. I felt I had found a home away from home, a community of like minded people who wished to do something positive for their neighbors, who desperately needed a respite, a place to be a part of, a place to steal away to for a few hours or minutes of our chaotic, stressful lives. The Community and the Public need these places of hope and refuge now more than ever.”

“The folks at the garden were diverse in every way possible, and it was clear what a sanctuary TPG was. It is a healthy and fresh food source for many in the Tenderloin, which is a food desert with little access to healthy, affordable foods for residents; it is a place of peace for volunteers, workers, and community members; it is a place of communion where people can share knowledge of food cultivation and urban agriculture; it is a place to connect to land and our true nature, where so many in urban environments do not otherwise have to opportunity to do so; and it is a sacred place where folks feel safe and mentally well.”