Members of First Church are invited to help at one of UTC’s Community Gardens, 5417 Pearl Street, West Philadelphia on Saturday, August 7 at 11 AM.   We will be hosted by Mike Jones, a CCP graduate and UTC’s Community Land Steward.  Participants are asked to dress comfortably, bring water along with the completed CDC FACILITIES COVID-19 screening form. (If the temperature is over 90 degrees or raining with thunder/ lightning, the event will be rescheduled.)

Email Karl Miller (or text 610-864-2340) for more information and to volunteer!

First Presbyterian Church has supported this organization through its Mission Committee for a number of years.  Many of us have enjoyed volunteering at their Neighborhood Foods Farm or in one of their 27 Community Gardens and Pocket Parks.

The Urban Tree Connection (UTC) is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization, whose mission is to build a neighborhood rooted food and land system through community leadership development and land-based strategies in West Philadelphia.  In 2009, a group of people in a working-class Philadelphia neighborhood had a vision: In an abandoned lot littered with toxic waste, car parts and other trash, they saw a lush garden that could help sustain the area residents.

Over the last two decades, UTC has partnered with residents of West Philadelphia's Haddington neighborhood to develop and sustain community-driven greening and gardening projects. Their network of garden and farm sites are spaces for communal growing, gathering and education that fosters deep community engagement and leadership development of residents all ages, to build healthy sustainable community.