Commit to Fit

In August 2022, Commit to Fit entered a partnership with the First United Church to help address the church’s nutritional barriers. At the time, the church was having difficulty meeting the food needs of its 150+ food distribution clients. Commit to Fit was able to help the church identify funding for a “test garden” of three raised beds, while also providing technical assistance on what crops could be grown late in the Michigan growing system. The test garden produced several rounds of vitamin-rich produce such as radishes, spinach, broccoli, strawberries, and lettuce that were provided to the church’s clients. In 2023, Commit to Fit helped the church identify additional funding that allowed for the garden project to be expanded from three raised beds to a small field. Commit to Fit continued to provide technical assistance and resources to support the church’s garden. Ultimately, the church grew hundreds of pounds of produce during the growing season, providing nearly all of it to the food distribution clients. Clients were able to receive various fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, squash, carrots, green onions, watermelons, and tomatillos – all at no cost. The church intends to continue operating the community garden in future years and will alter the crops being grown based on the preferences of clients. Commit to Fit takes pride in the success of the community garden and states that it is a demonstration that with SNAP-Ed technical assistance, program partners can continue to create community gardens that sustainably produce enough fruits and vegetables to significantly increase food access for low-income residents.