Salvation Army Community Garden Restores Self-Worth

Dignity is about feeling connected. It’s about a sense of belonging and improved self-worth. Data recently released by The Salvation Army reports that the vast majority of Canadians believe everyone, despite their socioeconomic status, deserves dignity and most deserve a helping hand. But, many still believe that the poor have mostly themselves to blame and that poverty is a choice.

While The Salvation Army continues to work to address the dehumanizing scourge of poverty and injustice in the country, it makes every effort to restore a sense of dignity to its clients.

In St. John, N.B. The Salvation Army’s Booth Residential Services is a centre that provides shelter and practical support to men who are homeless, affected by mental illness, foster children ages 16 to 18, refugees and government assisted clients.
At the edge of the property sits a garden, planted by The Salvation Army in June 2010. It’s a rare patch of green space in an urban neighbourhood.

The men at The Salvation Army learn a number of things from working on their garden that include social skills, basic life skills, and realizing their potential. All of which help them develop a sense of worth.

So far the Booth Centre has harvested beet greens and lettuce. Other vegetables growing in the garden include cherry tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, Swiss chard and green beans. Everything grown in the garden goes right back to the centre’s tables for meals.

It’s tough to be homeless, and nurturing a garden is one way of restoring hope and dignity.