ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – This morning, the United Way of Onslow County teamed up with Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office to plant new community gardens for the public.
Sixteen new garden beds will soon be filled with fresh produce for Onslow County residents to enjoy.
On Wednesday, volunteers braved the rain to build the gardens on Chaney Avenue.
Detective Alexis Mullen with the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office came out to help and wants the public to know these gardens are for everyone.
“The whole purpose of this is not for you to have to fill out a form or meet certain requirements,” Mullen said. “It’s more so that if you need it, and you need to feed your family, you can come out here and get food.”
Last year, United Way of Onslow County installed six garden beds. The food from those beds went to the Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program.
Now, these additional garden beds will give everyone a chance to enjoy fresh food.
“This is going to be our first year doing this,” said Raquel Painter, president of United Way of Onslow County. “Last year, we produced food, but that really went to the Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program, so it went directly to children in their homes. This year, it will be open to the public.”
Painter said she hopes to see the gardens expand into areas that don’t have easy access to fresh food, so more people can see the benefits of community gardening.
Detective Mullen said her biggest concern is that wildlife could come by and take advantage of the fresh produce.
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