A group of student gardeners is nurturing programs for low-income families to have access to affordable, healthy foods.
HOPE Gardens, a student-run community garden started in 2009 by UNC alumnus David Baron, uses sustainable agriculture to provide low-income community members with access to fresh produce. It’s also an opportunity to connect with social and professional networking organizations.
“As students it is easy to live in a bubble and only associate with people in our same stage of life and lose sight of differences,” co-chairwoman Emily Auerbach said . “In HOPE Gardens, we meet, talk and form relationships with people in different stages of life.”
Since February, the group has been hosting a weekly cooking and nutrition class at the University United Methodist Church called HOPE Cooks.
Spearheaded by UNC junior Neha Verma, co-chairwoman of HOPE Gardens, the group brings together UNC students and community members to learn how to cook a healthy meal on a budget.
“We value HOPE Cooks because it’s an opportunity to build relationships and break down food barriers in Chapel Hill,” Verma said.
Beyond HOPE Cooks, HOPE Gardens has several other weekly programs as well. The group has identified two major barriers to healthy eating: affordability and transportation.
To combat these obstacles, food from the garden is distributed to local organizations, such as Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe, the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service’s food pantry and Farmer Foodshare. These groups work to ensure people in need do not go hungry.
The organization fosters inter-communal relationships, bringing together groups which include immigrants, volunteers from the juvenile justice system, local businesses and various sponsors. HOPE is funded by individual donations and grants.
