Summit Food Coalition will help 14 community gardens take root, thanks to the 2019 NeighborFood Mini Grant program.
The Coalition provides small grants to individuals and groups that come together to develop community gardens. Awards of up to $500 may be used to launch or make improvements to existing community gardens in Summit County.
“A diet rich in fruits and vegetables makes a profound difference in people’s health,” said Sarah Vradenburg, master gardener and secretary of the Summit Food Coalition’s Advisory Committee. “Growing good food is one way for people in food deserts to bridge the gap between the need for good food and its availability. NeighborFood supports gardeners by removing, at least in part, the cost of garden startups.”
Awardees of the 2019 NeighborFood Mini Grants include:
• Eastwood Preserve Community Garden
• The Blackhawk Foundation
• Adolph St Community Garden
• Philip Avenue Community Edible Classroom and Garden
• LINKS Community Garden
• Callis Tower Community Garden
• The Island Community Garden
• Gods Blessings
• Haven of Rest Community Garden
• First Baptist Community Garden
• White Pond Villa Community Garden
• Unity Garden
• Habitat for Humanity of Summit County Community Garden
• The WOMB Community Garden
This year, Summit Food Coalition distributed nearly $5,000 in funding to 14 community gardens. “With these grants, more access to fresh produce will be available in neighborhoods across our community,” said Executive Director Beth Knorr. “This program is such a tangible manifestation of our work – helping to address food insecurity where it happens and through the leadership of the communities themselves.”
Summit Food Coalition is an alliance of people and organizations working to build a just, sustainable and vibrant local food system in Summit County,
The ability to provide the 2019 NeighborFood mini grants was made possible through the support of the Akron Garden Club.
“We at the Akron Garden Club are delighted to support the Summit Food Coalition in their quest to create community vegetable gardens in underserved Summit County neighborhoods,” said Mary Lohman, projects chair for Akron Garden Club. “Access to fresh, nutritious food is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle and should be available to all.”
For info about Summit Food Coalition, visit summitfoodcoalition.org or email Beth Knorr at [email protected].
