Growing Hope

The Growing Hope Initiative provides alternative programming for those impacted by homelessness. Activities are centered around creativity, entrepreneurialism, confidence building and self-reliance.

Homeless and at-risk individuals are offered opportunities to create a broad variety of arts and crafts, participate in gardening and learn horticultural skills. Arts, crafts, and produce are then offered for sale to the public in one of several venues, including the Growing Hope Community Market, the Artisans Gallery, or through the Artisans Cooperative.

The goal of the Growing Hope Initiative is to support and enhance the transition from homelessness and poverty to self-sufficiency. Participants gain self-confidence, learn basic business skills and are able to express themselves through their arts and crafts.

Artisans Cooperative: Offers training, support and entrepreneurial experience to individuals interested in arts and crafts who are also impacted by homelessness. Your purchase of a piece of art or craftsmanship provides financial support to the artists themselves as well as to the Cooperative.

Artisans Gallery: Cooperative members and associates showcase their art inside the Starfish Café. Visit the gallery during the café's normal business hours, Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00, or Saturdays 9-1, or by appointment.

Horticultural Crafts: Items from the Garden of Hope are transformed into art, including painted potpourri boxes, bookmarks, hand-poured candles, and hand-made stationery.

Hammock Weaving: Artisans are trained to hand-weave hammocks made of highly weather-resistant, recycled rug fibers. These family size (5' x 7') hammocks are made-to-order in green or white. (Purchase price: $120.00)

The Growing Hope Community Market is an opportunity for local farmers, the Garden of Hope and consumers to establish a relationship and bring quality grown food to the inner city at affordable prices.

The market takes place at the corner of East Broad and Gwinnett Streets in Savannah and is open on Saturdays during the early summer and fall. Produce, crafts and baked goods are provided by local vendors, growing hope artisans, and culinary arts students. Activities often include live music and chef demonstrations.

At the Garden of Hope, individuals impacted by homelessness are able to participate in all of the activities necessary to grow a broad variety of flowers, herbs and produce. Located on Boundary Street behind Garrison Elementary School, the half-acre lot has been transformed into a lush garden of fruit trees, herbs, flowers and vegetables. Horticultural Therapy classes are offered in the outdoor classroom. The produce grown in the garden is sold at the Growing Hope Community Market, used in the Grace House Kitchen, or in the Starfish Café.

Charlie - "Things are a lot better for me now. I'm working through my depression, so now I'm addicted to flowers- and making money at it too. I'm grateful that something like this [program] is in place."

Peter - "Creative Arts allows us to understand and connect to ourselves, our community and our God in ways that words cannot imagine."

Contact Information

Mike Freeman
Growing Hope Coordinator

Office: (912) 495-8887
Fax: (912) 495-8881
Email: mfreeman@unionmission.org

Laura Webb, M.A.
Program Director

Office: (912) 236-7423
Fax: (912) 236-3907
Email: lwebb@unionmission.org

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