NeighborFood mini grants awarded to 31 local gardens
— Thirty-one community gardens in Summit County were recently awarded mini grants from Summit Food Coalition’s NeighborFood program. A total of $12,453 was awarded in an effort to increase access and consumption of fresh and nutritious foods.
Awardees range from a collection of neighborhood residents to churches and community organizations. Two-thirds of those receiving funds in 2018 are situated in neighborhoods classified as food deserts by the USDA.
Several are seeking to improve or expand existing infrastructure in their gardens including building raised beds. Others are establishing permanent plantings such as fruit trees, increasing the range of produce available from the gardens.
The list of community gardens awarded a NeighborFood mini grant are:
Adolph St. Community Garden, Alchemy House Community Garden, Beck Avenue Community Garden, Brookshire Community Garden, Callis Tower Community Garden, Cascade Village Community Garden, Eastwood Preserve Community Garden, Firestone Park Library Community Garden, First Baptist Community Garden, God’s Blessings (JoAnna House II), Habitat for Humanity of Summit County Community Garden, Haven of Rest Community Garden, John Brown Community Garden, Kenmore Community Garden, LINKS Community Garden, Namaste Community Garden, Paige Avenue Community Garden, Philip Avenue Community Edible Classroom and Garden, Second Chance Community Garden, Seeds of Hope Garden, Shanti Community Gardens, Stow Municipal Court Garden, The Island Community Garden, The Magic Garden, The People’s Community Garden, The Well Community Garden, The W.O.M.B. Community Garden, Trinity Community Garden, Unitarian Universalist Community Garden, University of Akron Community Garden, White Pond Villa Community Garden.
Summit Food Coalition has disseminated NeighborFood mini grants annually since 2013, providing funds for nearly 90 community gardens since the program’s inception. The grants provide up to $500 for community gardens throughout Summit County.
The Coalition is a countywide effort comprising more than 60 organizations that was the focus of proactive funding by Akron Community Foundation in 2015, following an assessment and a series of strategic planning sessions hosted by the community foundation.
Summit Food Coalition collaboratively builds the framework for a just, sustainable, and vibrant local food system. Our efforts focus on improving access to nutritious food for all Summit County residents, promoting economic opportunities for farmers and food entrepreneurs, and supporting education and policy changes in support of those goals. Learn more at summitfoodcoalition.org.
