Community Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health and Sadie Vickers Resource Center cut the ribbon on a new community garden that is expected to produce thousands of pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to help feed families in need in Ocean County. The grand opening coincided with National Hunger Action Month.
The Sadie Vickers CommUnity Garden, located at 62 First Avenue in South Toms River, is part of a larger initiative by RWJBarnabas Health to address health equity and the social determinants of health, including food insecurity, to improve health outcomes in New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities. Nearly 1 million or 1 in 9 New Jerseyans have reported experiencing food insecurity with higher rates among children.
The Sadie Vickers CommUnity Garden will offer residents access to healthy foods and nutrition and wellness education throughout the year in an area that lacks supermarkets or easily available produce and other nutritious foods.
CMC and RWJBarnabas Health staff have volunteered their time to help the garden grow by setting up 100 “earthboxes” and planting seeds. The garden is expected to yield thousands of pounds of produce that will be distributed locally.
Learn more about Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health.