Helping communities blossom — beyond healthcare

A group of dedicated medical students has restored a local community garden and shared its bountiful harvest with Friends of the Poor.

Avery Stivale, MD class of 2027, who led the effort with classmate Nate Smith, said, “I gained firsthand experience on the impact of donating fresh, organic vegetables when I was a volunteer farmer for the Chester County Food Bank. So, I knew I wanted to continue this kind of work.”

When the students saw the garden’s sad state, they knew they’d need help restoring it and making it fruitful. They turned to lifelong gardener and Professor of Physiology Michael Hardisky, PhD, for help.

Dr. Hardisky helped orchestrate a comprehensive renovation, beginning with a cleanup and a large dump truck of soil delivered in the spring. The team used a local university greenhouse to start plants, including tomatoes, peppers and basil, from seed.

Each crop of fresh, organic produce was donated to Friends of the Poor, a Scranton nonprofit dedicated to “easing the burden of those living in poverty and enhancing the quality of life for all.”