The Patchogue Community Garden has received a $4,393 grant from the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District to support its mission of growing and distributing fresh vegetables to local food pantries. The funding will be used to improve infrastructure and strengthen the garden’s ability to meet increasing community needs.
Located behind the Village of Patchogue Parks & Recreation Department at 380 Bay Avenue, the cooperative garden operates with a volunteer spirit and a clear purpose: to fight food insecurity by cultivating healthy, local produce and sharing it with neighbors in need.
The grant was secured by Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne, who also serves as a director of the Soil and Water Conservation District and is a proud member of the garden. Thorne emphasized the organization's vital role in food justice and community building, calling it “a model of how local action can bring real results.”
The Soil and Water Conservation District supports projects that protect natural resources and promote sustainability across Suffolk County. Through partnerships with government agencies, farmers, and civic groups, the District helps steward environmental resilience while addressing community needs.
For the Patchogue Community Garden, the new funding marks an investment in both the soil and the community's soul, nurturing not only crops but also hope and solidarity.