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Page 29 - The Indian EYE 050126
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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 01, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 29

                 NYC Health Department Opens Community

                   Garden in Brownsville to Support Healthy

                       Food Access and Community Wellness

            OUR BUREAU

            NEW YORK, NY
               n celebration of Earth Day, the
               NYC Health Department has
            Iannounced the opening of its first
            community garden at the Brownsville
            Neighborhood Health Action Center
            in Brooklyn. Designed to create op-
            portunities for residents to meet and
            build  relationships  with  their  neigh-
            bors, the new garden will bring to-
            gether residents, community partners,
            and local schools to support wellness,
            learning, and nutrition access. Locat-
            ed behind the community health cen-
            ter, the garden is planned to be used
            to grow fruits and vegetables includ-
            ing watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers,
            corn, and okra, in addition to herbs
            such as mint, sage, and parsley. Ev-
            erything grown in the garden will be
            available  to the community  free of
            charge, along with access to educa-
            tional programming and community
            events. The community garden will   nity gardens give people better access   purchases of eligible fruits, vegetables,  $30 per month with this discount.
            be accessible to the public Monday   to healthy food and a chance to con-  and beans by New Yorkers using Sup-   Health Bucks are $2 coupons
            through Friday between 9 a.m. and   nect with their neighbors, which in   plemental Nutrition Assistance Pro-  that can be used to purchase fresh
            4 p.m. with gardening classes starting   turn improves community well-being.  gram (SNAP) benefits at participating   fruits  and  vegetables at  all  NYC
            in May.                           By  opening  its  first  community  gar-  supermarkets. For every dollar spent   farmers markets and farm stands.
               “In the heart of Brownsville,  den, the NYC Health Department    using SNAP benefits on eligible fruits,  For every $2 spent in SNAP benefits
            we’re planting more than seeds:   advances its commitment to creating   vegetables, and beans, program par-  at farmers markets and farm stands,
            we’re cultivating health, connection,  spaces that foster social connection,  ticipants get a matching dollar (up to   shoppers can get $2 in Health Bucks,
            and hope for our community,” said   environmental awareness, and com-  $10 per day) that can be used for the   up to $10 per day. Health Bucks are
            NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Al-   munity-driven wellness as a means to   next purchase of eligible foods. These   available year-round at NYC farm-
            ister Martin. “Our community gar-  improve  public  health.  The  garden   matching dollars are added to a Get   ers markets that accept EBT. There
            den is a vital step toward improving   will serve as a setting for ongoing   the Good Stuff card that is scanned at   are more than 100 farmers markets
            public health and empowering resi-  programming, including gardening   the register before payment.   and farm stands across the five bor-
            dents to make healthier choices, by   workshops, youth engagement ac-   The Groceries to Go program   oughs every summer and fall. For
            increasing access to fresh fruits and   tivities, and hands-on learning op-  provides  eligible  New  Yorkers  with   days and hours of operation of loca-
            vegetables. Healthy eating is a pow-  portunities that connect residents to   monthly credits to purchase grocer-  tions open year-round, visit the NYC
            erful tool in the fight against chronic   nature and to one another.   ies for delivery or pickup. To be eli-  Health Map. To find a farmers mar-
            diseases like diabetes and heart dis-  Programming connected to the   gible for the program New Yorkers   ket or farm stand near you, text “So
            ease. We  are  actively  nurturing the   garden includes partnerships with in-  must be a member of NYC Health +  Good” (or “Muy Rico” for Spanish)
            health of our city to ensure everyone   stitutions supporting educational ex-  Hospital’s NYC Care program, have   to 55676.
            has the opportunity to thrive.”   periences that introduce participants   hypertension or diabetes, and be ex-  The Stellar Farmers Markets
                The new community garden      to gardening practices, environmen-  periencing food insecurity. Credits   program provides free bilingual nu-
            enhances outdoor space behind the   tal stewardship, and cohort-based   can be used to purchase SNAP-eli-  trition education workshops  and
            Brownsville Health Action Center   learning opportunities.          gible foods and beverages through   cooking  demonstrations at select
            that has historically been used to host   The opening of the new Browns-  an online platform that links to hun-  farmers markets throughout NYC
            events that, in the past, have attract-  ville community garden builds on the   dreds of grocery stores across NYC.  from August to November. The pro-
            ed over 1,000 attendees. The NYC   NYC Health Department’s nutrition   The credits can also be used to pay   gram builds participants’ knowledge
            Health Department plans to contin-  education programs and initiatives   for service fees, tips, and delivery.  and skills about how and why to pre-
            ue to use this space for events in the   that address inequities in healthy   Groceries to Go participants receive   pare healthy meals using fresh, sea-
            future, including those supported by   food access.                 a 50% discount on purchases of fresh   sonal produce. Workshops are open
            the new garden.                       The Get the Good Stuff program   fruits and vegetables using their   to the public and are provided in
                Studies have found that commu-  offers a dollar-for-dollar match on   credits. Participants can save up to   multiple languages.

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