Sandians help HopeWorks build community garden

“I was sleeping on the sidewalk, on a piece of cardboard, not far from here,” James Freeman said as he spoke about the journey that brought him to the nonprofit HopeWorks.

“I arrived here on a bus about nine years ago. I had a few hundred bucks in my pocket and thought I would be able to find work quickly and support myself. It didn’t happen that way.”

Freeman is one of thousands of people HopeWorks, formerly St. Martin’s, has helped over the past 40 years. “I stayed at all the shelters at one point or another, but found so much love, kindness and compassion at HopeWorks,” he said.

Today, Freeman has a home of his own, a bachelor’s degree in social work, a goal of earning a master’s degree, and a seat on the board of the organization that helped change his life.

Sandia wants to help create more success stories by supporting the HopeWorks’ latest project: a community garden.

Turning dirt into hope

“People here got really excited about it after hearing that it was really going to happen this year,” HopeWorks Development Director Mitchie Benavidez said.

HopeWorks staff had long envisioned transforming a vacant, dirt- and weed-filled lot on its campus into a community garden — a place for healing and hope. “I think it can be an escape. Not just for clients, but for staff too. An out-of-the-way place where they can tend to the garden or do their work,” Benavidez said.

The challenge was securing funding. That’s where Sandia’s community involvement team stepped in.

“I got to meet James on a recent tour of HopeWorks and felt so inspired by his story of overcoming homelessness,” Sandia Community Involvement Manager Katrina Wagner said. “I wanted Sandia to be a part of this garden to see firsthand the amazing work HopeWorks does in our community.”

Sandia secured funds to pay for plants, tools and supplies, but the biggest help came in the form of Sandia volunteers who spent April 25 digging, plowing, shoveling, cutting, raking and planting.

“I’ve always wanted to do an outreach event,” said Vinh Ton-That, a year-round Sandia intern. “I live around these parts, so I see homelessness day to day. Doing garden work or yard work is the least I can do.”

Vinh was joined by fellow intern Angel Serrano, who grew up in Albuquerque. “HopeWorks helps the community in such a special way, especially when it comes to the mental health aspect that can be part of homelessness,” Angel said. “Growing up here, I didn’t think Sandia did community involvement events like this. I thought they just did science. It’s cool to be part of something like this.”

A place to reflect and work

The new garden sits outside of Hope Village, a 42-unit housing complex located on Third Street near Mountain Road in downtown Albuquerque. The village houses clients making significant strides toward rebuilding their lives, while providing safe housing, mental health services, employment counseling and other critical resources as they help rebuild their lives.

“I can see the clients really taking ownership of that space,” Freeman said. “They already have a flower garden in the clubhouse, and they have chores like watering and feeding the plants, making sure they get enough sunlight.”

Sandia volunteer Kara Komula said she didn’t know much about the project when she first signed up but was quickly moved by its mission. “Once they told us the story and mission, I thought it was really incredible and an amazing resource.”

Kara is grateful for the opportunity to volunteer through Sandia. “It really does make the community a better place and the more volunteers we have, the bigger the impact,” she said.

HopeWorks staff said they’re thankful for the partnership.

“The community garden just made sense, and for Sandia to step in and really want to be part of this program was a win-win for us,” Benavidez said.