Backyard Growers awarded Community First Grant to increase healthy food access in Gloucester

 Whole Cities Foundation announces 44 local community partners through innovative grant program.

Whole Cities Foundation, an independent nonprofit foundation established by Whole Foods Market, awarded Gloucester-based Backyard Growers a $5,000 Community First Grant, to fund healthy eating initiatives in the city.

Backyard Growers, in partnership with Gloucester Housing Authority, will be using grant funds to improve fresh food access in Gloucester by establishing new community gardens and expanding existing gardens at housing communities throughout the city. Backyard Growers has 64 gardening beds in low-income housing communities as well as 9 community gardens throughout Gloucester. Their school garden programs are in every school in the Gloucester Public School District, serving over 2,000 students, and their school garden program model is now being used in Manchester, Rockport, Marblehead, Lynn, and Chicopee School Districts as well.

With the support of the Whole Cities Foundation, Backyard Growers built the Willowood Community Garden in…