Help Us Nourish Young Bodies and Minds in Cambridge, MD

For 23 years, New Beginnings Learning Academy has been a safe, steady place for kids growing up in one of Cambridge’s most under-resourced neighborhoods. Every week, more than 50 children come for homework help, encouragement, stability, and the simple joy of being kids.

This spring, New Beginnings invited Blackwater Rising to help them start a garden — and it quickly became the highlight of the week. Together, we planted tomatoes, melons, corn, basil, sunflowers, okra, zinnias, and more. The children loved planting, watering (the plants and each other!), weeding, harvesting, and cooking their own food.

Why this matters:

Gardening gives kids healthy choices: time outdoors, teamwork, hands-on skills, and physical activity. It introduces them to fresh, nutritious food and teaches them how to grow it for themselves and their families. These experiences build confidence, curiosity, and long-term habits that support a healthier life.

Help us make this program sustainable.

Right now, New Beginnings doesn’t have the basic infrastructure to maintain or expand the garden. The water source is behind a locked door, there are no tools or supplies, and nowhere safe to store them.

Your gift will help us:

Install an outdoor yard hydrant for reliable water access
Add a secure garden shed for tools and supplies
Purchase kid-friendly tools, soil, and other essentials
Build one additional raised bed so more children can participate

Every dollar grows something real. Every gift helps us stay a stable, loving presence in the lives of children who deserve every chance to thrive.

Special Thank-You:
Donors of $100 or more will receive a set of seed packs decorated by the kids themselves — okra, sunflowers, kale, and marigolds harvested from the New Beginnings garden.

For more information on the good work you are helping to support, please visit the "New Beginnings" page on our website

Help us grow this joyful, healthy space. Give today.

New Beginnings Learning Academy

By Blackwater Rising Inc

New Beginnings Learning Academy

in Partnership with Blackwater Rising