Raise The Block!

What is Raise the Block? 

Raise the block is a fundraising campaign to support Okra Abbey's food production while expanding capacity for our mutual aid programs and services. 

• Sponsor a Concrete Block for $50, that we will custom paint with the name of a loved one, an organization or an uplifting quote that is meaningful to you.
• OR Sponsor an Entire Garden Bed for $4,000 and we will name the bed in honor of an individual, organization or other group of your choosing.

Ideas for Customizing Your Block(s):

• A spiritual or inspirational quote
• A dedication to a historical figure or community member
• Song lyrics or a poem excerpt
• The name of a loved one or ancestor you want to acknowledge
• The name of your church or an organization you’re a part of

Why: Okra Abbey is a living testament to how communities find ways to survive, persist, grow, and nurture one another even when the conditions seem impossible. At Okra Abbey, our garden is built in raised beds made of concrete blocks set on top of a former school parking lot. For our plants to thrive and nourish our community, these beds need space and depth to grow robust root systems in soil that retains moisture and nutrients.

Most of our beds are 3 concrete blocks high, allowing enough space & soil to produce healthy fruits, vegetables and herbs. Still, five of our garden beds are only 2 concrete blocks high, and we have found that over time our plants in these beds are less robust, more diseased and targeted by pests. In an effort to expand our capacity to feed our community, we are launching a fundraising campaign to “Raise the Block” to help us purchase a pallet of new blocks to literally raise our garden beds to new heights. 

At the same time, we are working towards building a robust organization that can collaboratively and creatively support leadership development in Pigeon Town, create jobs for our neighbors and ore effectively address the material and spiritual needs of our community.

The Garden Bed is a metaphor for our broader vision. We are working to build, seed, grow, deepen and sustain an ecosystem of care in Pigeon Town. We need your help to make this possible.

Once you have submitted your donation, please email okraabbey@gmail.com and let us know how you would like your block customized, including any text, symbols, or images you would like us to hand paint on your block.