Dear Friends,
We are deeply grateful for your continued support of our efforts to contribute to the health, wellbeing, and academic success of students served through the Baltimore City Public Schools. This year, Friends of Great Kids Farm (“Friends”) benefited from key partnerships that have enabled our team to fund existing programs and consider new possibilities.
As Matt Dobson, our Farm Manager noted in an early interview discussing his plans for the farm,
“There’s no shortage of great ideas for what can be done with the land here. The potential is endless. The challenge is figuring out what a relatively small team can accomplish given our educational focus. Labor is a finite resource. We need to find the best ways to use our labor efficiently.”
With a staff of just two full-time Baltimore City Public Schools employees, a Farm Educator and a Farm Manager, augmented by a part-time custodial position, running a 33-acre working educational farm requires creative partnerships. Friends now funds two production assistants through the Americorps program hosted by CivicWorks and a program assistant through the Episcopal Service Corps program, in addition to a part-time Executive Director position.
Our program assistant handles the coordination of all the volunteers that keep the farm running smoothly. In addition to our dedicated regular volunteers that serve as field trip guides, farm experts and step in wherever needed, this year we hosted volunteers from 12 businesses joining us for corporate days of service where companies engage in teambuilding and provide additional labor to help us maintain and improve educational opportunities for students at the farm.
Your gift is extremely important because it enables us to direct much-needed resources to educate and support the students we serve. Eighty-five percent of Baltimore City Public School students are low-income, and the funding Friends raises makes a meaningful visit to the Farm a reality for students. This year, Friends will continue to sponsor Farm Explorations for schools that have never been to the farm with funding provided by you, our generous donors.
Would you be willing to help us reach more students?
-
Your gift of $30 will sponsor one student to visit the farm.
-
Your gift of $100 will sponsor a classroom tasting workshop, enabling students to try their hand at a cooking and tasting experience such as cheese making or pizza making.
-
Your gift of $400 will sponsor a classroom of students to visit the farm.
Our Executive Director, Farm Manager, Program and Farm Assistants, and Custodian—everyone here who works to educate and support students—joins me in thanking you for your generous partnership and support.
Thank you so much for your help.
Sincerely,
Alison Hickman
Board Chair