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Thanks to the generous support of the Schwemm Family Foundation (SFF), the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ (̽»¨¾«Ñ¡) in San Diego has significantly bolstered its efforts in fostering healthy communities. The Foundation's funding has been instrumental in enhancing ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡'s community garden and nutrition education initiatives, both of which address the vital need for improved health outcomes among refugees and underserved populations in San Diego.

Specifically, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in San Diego collaborated with SFF to implement two impactful workshops focused on water conservation and food nutrition. The first workshop welcomed approximately 20 community gardeners from Iraq, Colombia, and Africa, during which they learned best practices for unearthing pipes. The workshop enabled community gardeners to conserve water and optimize its availability for their produce. The second workshop, hosted by ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s Refugee and Immigrant Pantry and Education (RIPE) Program, welcomed 23 ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ clients and their children. Topics included reducing food waste, how to put all parts of a plant to use, and supplementing a healthy diet with home-grown foods.

With SFF's support, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in San Diego also constructed a brand-new garden plot, providing additional space for fresh produce and growing our community of gardeners. Finally, with the remaining SFF funds, our team refurbished 12 existing plots, ensuring that our ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ gardeners have a thriving space to cultivate their crops. 

Thanks to the Schwemm Family Foundation, we can continue to improve our health promotion initiatives and better serve the refugee community right here in San Diego. Together, we’re growing more than just vegetables and access to nutrition education—we’re cultivating hope and resilience.