Generous Donors Plant Hope with a Very Special Gift

Sharon and her husband Ron have long been supporters of Global Refuge. But when Sharon heard that the Global Refuge Community Culture Garden in Fargo, ND needed farm equipment, it hit close to home for her.

Having grown up on her family’s farm in Ohio, she knew firsthand how vital a tractor is and how much it can help a garden grow. She decided she wanted to do her part to support the garden and the refugee and immigrant community—and, along with Ron, donated the full cost of a new tractor in memory of her father Harold.

The gift is invaluable; launched in 2023, the community garden for refugee families in Fargo has quickly become a space where Global Refuge clients come together to connect with the land, each other, and the community.

Last season, our families harvested nearly 1,700 pounds of fresh, culturally meaningful produce. We added 30 raised beds, launched a soil health initiative, hosted youth workshops, and started a seed library so families can continue to grow the foods they love year after year.

“I’m the son of a gardener, so farming is in my blood,” said Kul Basnet, who fled his home in Bhutan and spent over 20 years as a refugee in Nepal before coming to the U.S. (and now works at Global Refuge). “This garden is an opportunity to gather around and make friends in the community.”

Sharon and Ron’s generous gift means the garden can expand its growing space to meet demand for popular crops like lenga-lenga greens and Aleppo peppers, as well as new additions like molokhia (Egyptian/Ethiopian spinach), a highly requested crop this season.

“A gift like this allows us to keep growing the foods that matter most to our gardeners,” said Eric Hegg, Global Refuge Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program coordinator. “It’s incredible how so many have stepped up to support our garden. And we’re especially grateful for the outpouring of generosity from donors like Sharon and Ron.”

In addition to financial giving, Sharon and Ron volunteer their time to help refugee families as they rebuild their lives in the United States. Last year, they were part of a church group that helped resettle a Syrian family of six.

“I was there when they arrived at the airport. When those elevator doors opened and I saw this family smiling and so happy to be here, it was a pivotal moment for me,” Sharon says. “They had been on such a long journey and I was happy to do what I could to help them navigate their new lives here.”