Community Gardens
The AtlantiCare Foundation provides funds through its Growing Green initiative to create and sustain community gardens. These gardens improve the nutrition practices of youth and adults through the growth of healthy, sustainable foods complemented by wellness and nutrition programming infused with science-based education. In addition, the gardens beautify open spaces and promote collaboration and empowerment among residents and community groups.
Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to community.
— Anne River
A generous matching gift of $50,000 from the Dave Matthews Band in June 2011 has helped AtlantiCare to identify and support sites and partners for six community gardens, one in each of the six wards of Atlantic City. Continued financial support to the program has come from other music moguls, such as Phish/The WaterWheel Foundation and Orian Music/Metallica, following the programs creation.
Our first Atlantic City ward community garden, the Hope Community Garden (Ward 2) launched in 2011, followed by a garden at the historic Absecon Lighthouse (Ward 1) in 2012. Since then, located in ward 5, the Atlantic City Day Nursery hosts home to a community garden, supported by the children, staff, and parents/grandparents.
Down beach at the Salvation Army community garden (Ward 4), community members and volunteers support a garden that brings fresh produce to the population in need that they serve.
At Community Harvester’s Church in ward 3, Pastor Alexander Smith and his congregation support a community garden that supplies fresh produce to its members and residents of the area surrounding the church.
