Community garden opens in south toms river to address food insecurity, improve health

SOUTH TOMS RIVER, N.J., – A new community garden aimed at combating food insecurity and improving health outcomes for local families opened today in South Toms River. The Sadie Vickers Community Garden, a joint initiative by Community Medical Center (CMC), RWJBarnabas Health, and the Sadie Vickers Resource Center, is expected to produce thousands of pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to benefit families in need across Ocean County.

The garden, located at 62 First Avenue, is part of RWJBarnabas Health’s broader efforts to address social determinants of health, including access to nutritious food, which are crucial to improving health in vulnerable communities. The opening coincides with National Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about food insecurity.

“Our mission is to make our communities healthier,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health. “This kind of project is really what RWJBarnabas Health is all about: connecting with our community, doing it through faith-based organizations who can connect us to the needs of their communities.”

The garden will provide local residents not only with fresh produce but also with nutrition and wellness education, addressing a gap in access to healthy food in an area lacking nearby supermarkets. The initiative is designed to help mitigate the impacts of food insecurity, a problem affecting nearly 1 in 9 New Jersey residents, according to the state’s Office of Food Security Advocate.

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“We are addressing hunger in an innovative way,” said Patrick Ahearn, CEO of Community Medical Center. “Through our partnership with Sadie Vickers Resource Center, we are expanding healthy food access and education in South Toms River.”

Volunteers from CMC and RWJBarnabas Health have already planted seeds in 100 “earthboxes,” with plans to distribute the garden’s produce locally as it grows.

“We thank Community Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health for partnering with us to bring this garden to our community,” said Reverend David C. Graham, CEO of Sadie Vickers Resource Center. “Local residents are really going to benefit from the healthy produce and nutritional education.”

Food insecurity in New Jersey rose by nearly 23% between 2018 and 2022, according to state data, reflecting a growing need for initiatives like the Sadie Vickers Community Garden to ensure access to adequate, nutritious food.

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