Charleston Parks Conservancy Receives Publix Charities Grant to Support Its Community Garden Program

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Charleston Parks Conservancy has received a $5,000 grant from Publix Super Market Charities to support its community garden program. 

This month, Publix Super Markets Charities is donating $5.5 million to 300 Feeding America member food banks and other nonprofit organizations as part of their ongoing support to alleviate hunger and help local communities within Publix’s operating area.

The Conservancy currently manages three community gardens: 

• Corrine Jones Park and Community Garden in downtown Charleston 
• Magnolia Park and Community Garden in West Ashley
• Medway Park and Community Garden on James Island 

In each community garden, beds are available for the public to lease and grow their own produce. Additional community beds are used for education and demonstration. Volunteers help harvest the produce from those beds, which is donated to local food pantries and community organizations. So far in 2021, the Conservancy has donated 2,561 pounds of produce. 

Since the Conservancy’s Grow It Forward program launched in 2014, produce has been grown in more than 35 community beds, supporting neighbors who are dealing with food insecurity. The produce harvested from these beds is donated to community partners, including Destiny Community Cafe, Stone Soup Collective, Lowcountry Food Bank, One180Place and James Island Outreach as well to organizations focused on critical illnesses, such as Amor Healing Kitchen. 

In 2020, the Conservancy began working with organizations serving the community, including the Eastside Community Development Corporation and the Friends of Joseph Floyd Manor. 

More than 19,000 pounds of produce have been donated to these organizations over the last seven years. 

“Our community gardens are an integral part of our work to create stronger neighborhoods, promote healthy living and provide fresh produce to local food pantries,” said Tom McGuire, the Conservancy’s executive director. “Through this program, community members can grow their own food in a public park, learn about urban horticulture, and donate fresh produce to those battling food insecurity in our community. We’re tremendously grateful to Publix Super Markets Charities for recognizing the important role community gardens play in fighting hunger.” 

Through a public-private partnership model, the Conservancy works with the city’s Parks Department as well as community leaders, neighborhoods and engaged citizens to transform and activate the city’s parks and green spaces. The Conservancy and its Park Angel volunteers actively maintain more than 20 city parks and gardens. 

To learn more about the Conservancy and its community garden program, visit www.charlestonparksconservancy.org.

About the Charleston Parks Conservancy

The Charleston Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the people of Charleston to connect with their parks and create stunning public places and a strong community. For more than 13 years, the Conservancy — through public-private partnerships — has had a hand in renovating and beautifying more than 20 parks in the City of Charleston. In 2020, renovations were completed at Moultrie Playground and at St. Julian Devine Community Center & Park. Other notable projects include the complete renovation of Colonial Lake, the renovation of the Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park as well as Magnolia Park and Community Garden and Medway Park and Community Garden. For more information, visit www.charlestonparksconservancy.org. 

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Charleston Parks Conservancy on social media:

Twitter / Instagram @charlestonparks

Facebook www.facebook.com/CharlestonParksConservancy

CAPTIONS 

[Photo Publix Check Grant Presentation]

Pictured from left are Lee Island, store manager at the Publix at Ashley Landing; Stephanie Lee, donor relations manager for the Charleston Parks Conservancy; and Courtney Olson, Conservancy’s community garden manager & educator.

[Photo Courtney Olson produce donation]

Courtney Olson, community garden manager & educator for the Charleston Parks Conservancy, gathers produce to share with local food pantries.