This past October we shared the story of Plymouth-based Mosaic Company’s partnership with WestHealth and Interfaith Outreach Community Partners (IOCP) to provide fresh produce for families in need; now that the ground is thawing, it’s time for an update.
Staffed solely by slightly fewer than 100 Mosaic employees, the garden produced 1,200 pounds of produce last year, all of which was donated to IOCP. According Lenore Franzen, marketing communications director at IOCP, an average family takes 41 pounds of food every two weeks. If families took nothing but the produce from the garden, 29 families would have been fed for two weeks. If each IOCP family just took a few items, Mosaic’s manager of community engagement Nick Schmidt estimates the garden potentially fed 790 families.
This summer Schmidt plans to plant produce that is more appealing to immigrant populations, like bok choy, as well as old favorites like peas, carrots, potatoes and tomatoes. Other changes include adding raised gardens and composts.
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The garden is currently not in need of volunteers, but if you would like more information call 763.577.2700 or visit mosaicco.com. To volunteer at IOCP call 763.489.7500 or visit iocp.org/volunteer.
