Rite Aid Foundation Funds Garden at AHN Saint Vincent

In an effort to get fresh produce onto the tables of food-insecure AHN Saint Vincent patients, the hospital launched a program to grow fresh produce in a greenspace on the hospital’s mid-city campus.

The garden, which includes lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini and broccoli, is located across from the hospital’s south employee entrance on West 25^th Street. Patients are being screened for food insecurity at their doctor’s offices. If they screen positive, they get a referral to come to the Healthy Food Center. A referral is good for six visits.

The fresh produce garden was made possible by a $25,000 grant awarded to Children’s Miracle Network from Rite Aid Foundation, which provides hospitals across the country resources to address hunger and food insecurity through innovative, community-rooted initiatives. To date, the garden has supplied over 300 pounds (and rising!) of food.