MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Neighbors helping neighbors: That’s what a group of church members from Frayser are doing by making sure the Northaven community has access to healthy food.
Members of Impact Baptist Church are growing fresh and organic fruits and vegetables through its Impact Community Garden.
The church owns the 5 acres of land that’s tucked away in the middle of a Northaven neighborhood.
“It’s all here at the garden,” said Uwanda Tate. “Healing is right here at the garden.”
Tate helped start the garden three years ago with the help of her Pastor Michael Ellis Sr. at Impact Baptist Church.
The goal is to target the root of a problem in so many communities – a lack of healthy food sources.
“This community is considered a food desert because there are no grocery stores out here. There’s no service station,” Ellis said. “All they have is a little store that doesn’t have anything.”
The Impact Community Garden works to change that, growing fresh fruits and vegetables which are available to church and community members–all for free.
“When you deal with your parents and people in your lives dealing with illness — heart failure, cancer…you want to do something,” Tate said.
Tate and the Impact Garden Ministry have been digging, planting and watering to provide healthier options, everything from collards to corn.
It’s another facet to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s Healthier 901 initiative, which challenges Mid-Southerners to live healthier lifestyles while ultimately losing one million pounds collectively over three years.
So far, Impact Church members have lost more than 600 pounds!
“It makes me feel good to see that the church can really be about what the church is supposed to be about,” Ellis said.
Tate and her team are now seeing the fruits of their labor.
“This bed here is going to contain a bed of flowers,” Tate said.
She says she dreams of one day having a farmer’s market for community and church members to enjoy.
“It gives you a sense of life purpose and I found that purpose,” Tate said.
On Saturday, June 22, the Impact Community Garden will host a healthy eating demonstration on how to grow and prepare fresh produce.
Attendees can take home veggies from the garden for free!
The garden is located at 5375 North Circle Drive.
To donate to the community garden, call 901-488-0909 or Cashapp: $Godsplantate
To join the Healthier 901 Challenge, click here.
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