WEYMOUTH, MA, The Weymouth Food Pantry, working to address food equity in Weymouth and make fresh options more readily available to families relying on the pantry to meet their needs, recently celebrated the newly renovated Weymouth Food Pantry Garden at a ribbon-cutting held on Monday, June 22, at Old South Union Church in Weymouth’s Columbian Square.
The Weymouth Food Pantry Garden was first established in 2019, in partnership with Old South Union Church, South Shore Bank, and Weymouth Food Pantry to reimagine fresh food access for community members. With the vision of the Weymouth Food Pantry and an additional investment from South Shore Bank, the garden has been renewed with accessibility at its heart – raised beds now make it possible for community members who use wheelchairs or who live with limited mobility to garden, harvest, and enjoy the space.
“This garden is a representation of what communities look like when people come together and say, ‘what more can we do?’” said Pam Denholm, executive director of the Weymouth Food Pantry. “It has become something magical for this community,”
The garden has also been expanded and now features 26 beds, all filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs – including tomatoes, jilo eggplant, kale, okra, and a mix of sweet and hot peppers – that are reflective of the Weymouth community. In previous summers, the garden has produced as much as 2,000 pounds of fresh food.
Many members of the Weymouth community came together to contribute to the project. Garden Leads Len Bicknell and Todd Breitenstein spent hours digging out the old garden beds and positioning the new ones; Bicknell also built a custom shed for the garden. Jim Carr of JDC Home Services custom-crafted the new raised garden beds. Dave Bristol of JF Price donated compost and wood chips and also supplied a front end loader and filled the beds.
“This renovation reflects the Weymouth Food Pantry’s belief that fresh, culturally meaningful food should be available to everyone; it’s a garden built for community, shaped by care, and open to all who call Weymouth home,” added Denholm.
Weymouth Mayor Mike Molisee, South Shore Bank CEO Jim Dunphy, and Reverend Jennie Barrett Siegal, the Senior Pastor of the Old South Union Church, were also all on hand for the celebration.
“We know there is a need for more access to fresh, healthy food, and we’re so grateful to the Weymouth Food Pantry for working to meet this need,” said Mayor Molisse.
“We’re proud to support the Weymouth Food Pantry Garden, as it exemplifies our purpose of helping neighborhoods build shared success,” added Dunphy.
Rev. Siegal concluded, “We have been delighted to host the Weymouth Food Pantry Garden, as it allows us to be part of a ministry that grows good food, creates meaningful connections, and cares for our neighbors.”