A thriving garden behind the residence of Thrive Support and Advocacy in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is providing adults with disabilities a chance to work the soil, learn horticultural skills, and contribute to the fight against local food insecurity.
Funded by the Jean Wood Preston grant, the garden entered its first season this year. Residents tend to greenhouse seedlings before moving them outdoors for sunlight, then water, weed and harvest crops such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and cucumbers. “We’re seeing people be much brighter and much happier and amazed by the things that we’re doing,” said Thrive President and CEO Sean Rose.
From garden to table
Harvested produce serves two purposes. Some of the vegetables are incorporated into meals prepared for Thrive’s residential and day‑program participants. The remainder is donated to Flourish at Thrive, a food pantry in Worcester that serves the broader community.
Flourish at Thrive was created with assistance from Worcester Polytechnic Institute students, who helped build the pantry and an adjoining community space. The pantry offers options for people with special dietary needs, including gluten‑free pastas, sugar‑free meals for diabetics and low‑sodium choices, according to Director of Nursing Emma Duprey.
Impact on participants and neighbors
For residents like Melissa Pickett, the garden provides a sense of purpose. “I just love being able to give back to the community,” she said. Rose added that the program fosters pride, belonging and a tangible way to serve others.
Approximately 75 % of the individuals served by Thrive receive SNAP benefits or otherwise experience food insecurity. By growing their own food, participants not only improve their nutrition but also help reduce the strain on public assistance programs.
Community partnership and future plans
The garden’s success highlights the power of collaboration between nonprofit service providers, local educational institutions and volunteers. Thrive plans to expand the garden’s capacity, explore additional crop varieties and deepen its partnership with the Worcester pantry.
As the program matures, organizers hope it will serve as a model for other towns seeking to combine disability services with community‑wide nutrition initiatives.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
