New community garden aims to fight food insecurity in Mecklenburg

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A new community garden is coming to VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) to help combat food insecurity in rural areas.

According to a release from the hospital, out of those living in Mecklenburg County, 14% of people have a hard time putting food on the table.

Courtesy of CMH and the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), a community garden is set to open at the hospital to help support those facing food insecurity in the surrounding region.

The garden is made up of nine custom raised bed, and was created in early June with help from volunteers with CMH, VCE, local farmers and community members, the release said.

Additionally, the produce grown in the plot will help support partnerships between CMH, VCE and local food pantries for the remainder of the summer.

There will be a ribbon cutting for the garden on Thursday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at CMH located at 1755 N. Mecklenburg Ave.

This garden is part of the hospital's Community Improvement Plan. For more information, click here.