Food insecurity is a growing concern in communities large and small, urban and suburban alike. The conversation around how to ensure everyone has access not just to any food, but to healthy, nutritious options, continues to evolve.
One innovative approach is blossoming in Central Ohio: Garden For All, an initiative based in New Albany, is reshaping the local response to these challenges by merging community activism, education, and fresh food production.
Rethinking Food Pantries: Fresh Food as Medicine
Traditionally, food pantries were stocked with shelf-stable items—canned goods and boxes that could last weeks or months. This was essential in combating hunger, but it often overlooked an equally important aspect: nutrition.
Today, the recognition that “food is medicine” is driving a new vision.
Many chronic illnesses—diabetes, heart disease, stroke, even cancer—are directly tied to diet. Better food access isn’t just about filling stomachs, but about building stronger, healthier lives and reducing hospital readmissions by ensuring those recovering from illness have the nutrition they need for a full recovery.
Sowing the Seeds During a Crisis
Garden For All grew out of the communal spirit and urgent need that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Founders Catherine and Sean Duffy, leveraging the generosity of the All Saints Episcopal Church and its land, began cultivating fresh produce as a direct response to growing food insecurity and supply chain challenges.
Their mission was twofold: tackle hunger by providing fresh produce to area food pantries and combat the isolation brought on by the pandemic through hands-in-the-dirt volunteerism.
By 2023, the garden had donated over 8,000 pounds of produce—equivalent to 40,000 servings—to families and individuals across Central Ohio. The impact goes beyond nutrition; it’s about creating shared purpose and building relationships within the community.
The Power of Partnerships and Innovation
Despite the strong network of food support, including stalwarts like the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the demand for wholesome, available, and affordable food is great. Garden For All has established partnerships with local organizations and food pantries such as Healthy New Albany, Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN), Broad Street Presbyterian Food Pantry, and Motherful.
A unique business model ensures that 100% of what is grown is donated. The garden is also expanding its growing season with innovative “high tunnel” systems, with funding from a USDA grant. This allows for fresh produce in the winter months—a time when fresh options are traditionally scarce.
Volunteers at the Heart
Volunteering at Garden For All is an inclusive experience. With over 250 regular volunteers, the garden welcomes everyone. This includes those who love digging in the soil, to others who prefer packaging produce, arranging bouquets, or making deliveries. Flower gardens add another layer; fresh bouquets are donated alongside produce, bringing beauty and dignity to every recipient’s table.
The organization is also a recognized site for Ohio State University’s Master Gardener Program. That means they draw upon horticultural expertise and further education within the community.
Education: Growing More Than Food
Garden For All recognizes that knowledge is as vital as access. Programs like the annual “Sow and Grow” event invite food pantry clients to create their own container gardens. This provides hands-on education that encourages self-sufficiency.
Children’s programs and seed-starting classes aim to spark a lifelong interest in gardening and nutrition among the youngest participants.
Building Inclusive Communities
Perhaps most striking is the organization’s ethos: everyone is welcome, regardless of faith or background. In a region often considered affluent, Garden For All serves as a reminder that food insecurity does not have a single face or ZIP code.
Their partnerships throughout Central Ohio ensure that the fruits—and flowers—of their labor reach the people and places that need them most.
Resources for Those in Need
Garden For All does not provide food directly to individuals. It supplies local pantries and directs those in need to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, which maintains a comprehensive directory of pantries and food resources. Additional connections are made through libraries and community partners.
The Call to Action
The Garden For All initiative stands as a testament to what’s possible when innovation, collaboration, and compassion take root. From expanding growing seasons to celebrating the simple joy of a flower on the kitchen table, this program demonstrates that small actions—volunteering time, donating resources, sharing knowledge—combine to make a big difference.
The insights, stories, and forward-thinking ideas explored in this blog post were shared by a guest of the Looking Forward Our Way podcast, whose leadership at Garden For All advances the vision of healthier, more connected communities across Central Ohio.
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Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson
