Mission Helping Hand has partnered with local community gardens in many areas in need. Providing essential supplies, volunteers to maintain, prepare, and care for the gardens to become a Healthy, sustainable food source for the communities that have struggled even before the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. More than 1.2 million New York City residents, or 14.4 percent, are food insecure. New York City residents make up half (50 percent) of all food-insecure people living in New York State. New York City's food insecurity rate is 12 percent higher than the national rate and 21 percent higher than the New York State rate. Assisting the gardens to continue a robust food sustainability program is a great way to build a sense of empowerment, beyond the apparent nutritional health and hunger needs. The gardens have become beacons of hope to many forgotten communities, safe spaces for children, points of food distribution, educational centers offering free nutrition education to families in need, Supplying them with the tools they need to make healthy meal choices for their families. The Gardens also serve uplifting Mental health benefits in times of crisis. Combining sunshine, nature, and physical activity, gardening is an excellent way for people to be active, even if they have some physical limitations. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), gardening provides a moderate level of physical activity, burning between 210 and 420 calories per hour. The CDC recommends that adults get two-and-a-half hours of reasonable physical activity each week, a goal you could hit with daily pruning sessions. The digging, shoveling, and lifting that is part of gardening could count as the muscle-strengthening exercise the CDC recommends at least twice a week.
If you are interested in joining our Garden Project, please contact us.
Please Support Mission Helping Hand in any way that you can.
OUR CURRENT GARDEN PARTNERS:
Rainbow Garden of Life and Health
757 Melrose ave, The Bronx NY
Brook Park
494 E 141 St, The Bronx NY
El Coqui Liberation Community Garden
414 E 163rd St, The Bronx NY