Goshen Health Community Garden shares harvest with local food pantries
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Liz Fisher
Marketing Specialist
(574) 364-2776
lfisher2@goshenhealth.com
Goshen Health Community Garden shares harvest with local food pantries
GOSHEN, Ind., July 1, 2019 – Ready to get your hands dirty for a good cause? It’s the growing season at Goshen Health Community Garden. That means it’s time for volunteer gardeners to water crops, mow grass and harvest bushels of produce.
“It’s like a discovery zone in the garden,” said Sara Stalter, Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Goshen Health. “There’s something for everyone – whether you like to get your hands in dirt or want to deliver produce to one of our food pantry partners.”
Produce from gardens like Goshen Health’s helps feed more than 1,400 local families, according to Tom McArthur, Director of Church Community Services. The organization operates Seed to Feed, which provides fresh, local produce to food pantries in the area. Goshen Health has been a partner with Seed to Feed since planting the garden’s first half-acre in 2016.
“It’s uncommon to have fresh produce in food pantries,” said McArthur. “Our community partners allow Seed to Feed to share nearly 140,000 pounds of fresh produce with our pantry guests.”
Goshen Health donates all garden produce to food pantries across Elkhart County, including The Window in Goshen to help feed the local community.
“We will start harvesting peppers, eggplant and other vegetables in late July,” said Stalter. With starts of tomatoes, melons, squash and beans pushing through the dirt, the growing season – and the need for volunteers – continues into October.
Pop-up groups of volunteers that come to the garden include church fellowships, high school athletic teams, retired farmers and city folk, home school kids, neighbors, friends and families.
“The garden inspires people for all kinds of reasons,” Statler said.
Some come to learn what it takes to get local, pesticide-free food to the table. Others find a sense of peace and healing while gardening. Neighbors meet neighbors. Everyone makes a difference.
The plot is located off Professional Drive behind Goshen Retreat Women’s Health Center. You are welcome to pick fruits and vegetables for your own tables or help box produce for the food pantries.
If you go to the garden, remember to bring plenty of water. Gardening gloves and insect repellant also can make the dig more enjoyable.
Last spring, Goshen Middle School students helped plant the Goshen Health Community Garden.
Last summer, faithful volunteers Kathy Holsopple (left) and Betty Mullet (right) tend the Goshen Health Community Garden.
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About Goshen Health:
Goshen Health is a community-owned, nonprofit healthcare organization committed to improving the health of its communities. To live out the organization’s mission, Colleagues practice compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in every endeavor. The health system includes 38 locations across four counties with specialized cancer care; heart and vascular care; and a physician’s network with primary and specialty care.
For more information about Goshen Health, contact Liz Fisher at (574) 364-2776, lfisher2@goshenhealth.com or visit www.GoshenHealth.com. |
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Goshen Health | (574) 364-1000
200 High Park Avenue, Goshen, IN 46526, USA
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