At Blue Cross, we know that the foundation of a healthy lifestyle is healthy eating. Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic has increased financial burdens on many Minnesotans, leaving some families and individuals without the means to afford fresh produce.
We believe everyone should have access to healthy food, and our Giving Garden program is on a mission to make that a reality.
2022 marks the 15th year that Blue Cross associates will volunteer their time and skills in our community gardens located on our Eagan and Virginia campuses. Our goal is to nourish surrounding communities by donating garden-fresh vegetables to our local food pantries.
Last year we had over 100 associates work together to grow approximately 840 pounds of produce. Our crops included lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, tomatoes, potatoes, multiple varieties of squash, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, herbs, okra, celery, broccoli, peppers and green beans. We hope to have the same enthusiastic participation this year, too.
One of the Giving Garden founders, Magda Surrisi, director of implementation and strategic execution, was humbled by the work done by associates.
“Our associates came out in record numbers this year and last year because they knew there was an even greater need during the pandemic for people to have access to healthy food,” Surrisi said. “The Giving Garden is an initiative that shows the beauty of the human spirit and what big hearts people have for supporting each other.”
This past year, our volunteers had to navigate extraordinarily hot and dry conditions. However difficult the work was, the result was worth it.
In the metro area, produce was given to the Open Door Food Pantry in Eagan and the Department of Indian Work in St. Paul. In northern Minnesota, produce was donated to Quad Cities Food Shelf and the Salvation Army.
Of course, our goal was to help our surrounding communities, but the gardens also helped our internal community.
“Being in the garden together did a lot of good for the collective wellbeing of our volunteers,” Surrisi said. “The opportunity to grow, gather and give together was unexpectedly beneficial for our associates.”
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