Growing Hope: Hospital Starts South Toms River Community Garden

Community Medical Center is growing a healthier community! In April 2024, volunteers from Community Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health partnered with the Sadie Vickers Community Resource Center to start work on a community garden in South Toms River.

Volunteers set up 100 “earth boxes” which will be used to plant produce. These boxes are expected to yield thousands of pounds of produce. The garden’s produce will be distributed through farmer’s markets, food pantry programs, and community partner organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health previously built The Beth Greenhouse and Farmer's Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and our team is excited to replicate this successful program in South Toms River. The gardens offer access to healthy foods and nutrition and wellness education throughout the year in areas that lack supermarkets or easily available produce and other nutritious foods.

RWJBarnabas Health’s mission is to partner with our communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey – we are excited to plant the seeds of this partnership and watch it grow!