Wilkes-Barre Health Dept., Kings College & PPL Launch Community Garden Partnership

King’s College and the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department have embarked on a partnership for a Community Garden located on Madison Street. Funding for the garden was obtained from the PPL Foundation and is being supplemented by the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department through its Safe and Healthy Communities grant.

A Community Garden Outreach Club was formed to focus on sustainability, consisting of more than 25 King’s students from various majors. The club and community garden are both coordinated through Campus Ministry and the Shoval Center for Community Engagement and Learning at King’s.

The Wilkes-Barre City Health Department’s Safe and Healthy Communities grant encourages the development of community gardens in the City, as the gardens promote healthy eating and lifestyles.

Recently, students and members of the Health Department Staff toured the garden located on Madison Street. A representative from the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, David Todd, gave the students tips on planting, upkeep, and harvesting.

Mayor Tony George said, “The reinvigoration of the Community Gardens in the city is an example of how grant money is utilized to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Through partnerships, Wilkes-Barre is proving it can communicate with invested parties and execute programs for its residents.”

Pcitured from left to right are students Sam Parri, Robert Wachter, Rene Sousa, from King’s Campus Ministry Emma Gallagher, Penn State Extension Master Gardener David Todd, King’s College Center for Community Engagement Maura Modrovsky, student Josée Aitken and Wilkes-Barre City Health Director Henry Radulski.