Heroic Gardens is a nonprofit that provides free gardening services to U.S. veterans in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs of Pennsylvania, Northern Delaware and South Jersey. It also operates a virtual program in 24 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Founder Collie Turner shares her story behind its creation and the lessons learned along the way.
The seeds for Heroic Gardens were planted many years ago, somewhat unexpectedly. While caring for her grandmother, Collie discovered that her grandfather’s military death benefits had never been claimed. After a frustrating three-year journey of navigating the VA system, she met a local veteran who took time out of her regular role helping veterans secure housing, to help get her grandmother’s application reviewed and approved. This woman’s kindness sparked a question in Collie’s mind: How can I give back?
