The UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester supports several efforts in distressed, food-insecure neighborhoods to improve nutrition among vulnerable residents and increase access to healthy food. In collaboration with the City of Worcester and the Regional Environmental Council (REC), the hospital supports the Grant Square Community Garden in Worcester’s Bell Hill neighborhood. Established in 2010, the garden has 30 raised beds that are maintained by youth gardeners and residents. Produce is harvested from the garden and made available in the neighborhood, as well as to 15 stops in food insecure areas across the city through the REC’s “Veggie Mobile” farmers market. Hospital funds also support the doubling of SNAP benefits at Veggie Mobile sites.
