Digging in at the HMC Community Garden Project
On Saturday, May 12th residents, staff and volunteers will begin digging into the community garden project in Hopedale, IL. They will be planting vegetables, fruits and herbs. The newest plot will feature vining squash. The garden is located at White Fence Estate, previously the private residence of Dr. Lawrence J. Rossi, Sr., founder of Hopedale Medical Complex (HMC). When he opened Hopedale Hospital, Dr. Rossi’s vision was to serve the community by meeting a need for local medical care.
Dr. Rossi continually found new ways to serve, and expanded the hospital to include a nursing home, assisted living, and more. The community garden is an extension of Dr. Rossi’s vision that comes full circle; utilizing his beautiful property to serve the nutritional needs of Hopedale Township and the greater Tazewell, Peoria, and Woodford county areas.
As harvesting begins, garden vegetables will be served in farm-to-table recipes at Hopedale’s Grove Street Café, These vegetables will also be a regular side dish on Sunday’s Fried Chicken Lunches. Produce will be distributed through community partners including Peoria’s GITM Foundation (Gifts in the Moment). Through the Good Food Recovery program, produce from the community garden will be distributed to areas in need of produce, such as food banks and low-income food deserts.
If you would like to join Hopedale’s Community Garden Project as a volunteer, please contact Jill Miller-Roberts, Volunteer Coordinator, at (309) 449-4290 or Greg Eberle, Coordinator of Community Health and Wellness at (309) 449-4533. To learn more about Hopedale Medical Complex visit https://www.hopedalemc.com.