Photo credit: Dedee O’Neil/Akron Garden Club
Garden Club Supports Community Gardens in Summit Food Deserts
The Akron Garden Club has helped to support ten community gardens with seeds, tools, and supplies through a $5000 grant to Summit Food Coalition’s NeighborFood program. This iniative supports community gardening throughout Summit County, especially in areas designated as food deserts.
NeighborFood offers programs and networking opportunities for potential, beginning, and experienced gardeners. A major stumbling block for those desiring to establish a community garden is lack of funds to buy the necessary materials – soil, plants, fencing, and boards for raised beds. Research has demonstrated that establishing community gardens to grow food in neighborhoods that lack access is an effective, low-cost way to reduce food insecurity for the families who live there. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is the fiscal sponsor of Summit Food Coalition.
