Community Servings Plants More Than an Herb Garden

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Community Servings with the help of The Growing Connection planted its first herb garden in 100 feet of planters along the side of its industrial kitchen and nutrition center in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts on June 17. The agency will grow herbs and arugula for its clients' meals and to sell at its new Farmer's Market, which opens on Sunday, July 12. 

The garden, which  includes over a dozen herbs like parsley, sage, oregano, basil and garlic, will be tended by volunteers taking courses through the Boston Natural Areas Network to become Master Urban Gardeners. 

“With the help of The Growing Connection, our seedling donors, and the master urban gardeners who will tend the plantings, this herb garden truly represents ‘community feeding community,’” said David B. Waters, Community Servings’ CEO. “In these tough times, it’s gratifying to find innovative and collaborative ways to feed our clients locally grown foods, engage volunteers, and earn revenue.” And it's gratifying for the TGC Team to partner with organizations that help their clients maintain their health and dignity, preserve the integrity of their families, provide nutritionally and culturally appropriate meals, and send the message that someone cares.  

Community Servings provides free home-delivered meals throughout Eastern Massachusetts to those homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses. They deliver two daily meals to the 725 individuals and families. Meals are designed to meet the complex dietary requirements of people coping with a devastating illness who are unable to cook for themselves. 

Clients come from very diverse backgrounds and represent many different ethnicities. 90%, however, are living in poverty and can't afford to maintain a proper and balanced diet. 58% are men, 42% are women. Children receive 33% of the meals, and 80% of their caregivers are single parents. 

Community Servings recently expanded its programming to include a food service job training program, a social enterprise initiative and an international program in South Africa. They are continuing efforts to reach Greater Boston’s growing population of people homebound with AIDS, breast cancer, Lupus, kidney disease and other acute, life-threatening illnesses. You can read more about the work of Community Servings online

Special thanks to Edith Murnane and Jessica Welch for article information. 


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