As food pantries face rising demand, support is taking root close to home at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). A UTMB President’s Cabinet grant is helping fund a new, expanded vegetable garden at St. Vincent’s House, where volunteers, families, and students grow fresh produce to keep pantry shelves stocked with nutritious options for neighbors in need.
“They had an area of land that had been an unsuccessful garden, and we applied for the grant in 2021 and received $23,000 to get the garden up and running,” Brown said. “It was a two-year grant, and after it expired, we realized St. Vincent’s House and the community still needed our help. So we applied for an additional President’s Cabinet grant to expand the garden space.”
Last fall, the project received $25,000 in new funding, allowing the garden to grow from 1,600 square feet to roughly double its size. The expansion will support dozens of vegetable varieties, as well as fruit trees and berry bushes.
“Planting vegetables and fruits in Galveston can be tricky because of the heat and salty air,” Brown said. “Right now, we have okra, eggplant, peppers, cherry tomatoes, and many other vegetables, as well as herbs and flowers to attract pollinators. All the produce goes directly to the food pantry at St. Vincent’s House, which is one of the largest in Galveston.”
Graduate students in the Nutrition Sciences and Health Behavior Master of Science and Dietetic Internship program complete four- to six-week rotations in the garden, helping with watering, harvesting, pruning, weeding, planting, pest control, and pantry support.
“With the expansion, we will need more help,” Brown said. “We look forward to scheduling volunteer shifts with students from physical and occupational therapy, the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, and the UTMB School of Nursing.”
Work on the expanded space is underway, with the demolition of old playground equipment and the mapping of garden box placements.
“We’ll be building garden boxes, getting dirt delivered, and starting to plant,” Brown said. “We will be going into high gear.”
As rows of seedlings take hold, so does a broader sense of purpose. What began as a small plot is becoming a reliable source of fresh food and a hands-on way for students and volunteers to nourish both the community and their understanding of care beyond the clinic walls.