A Healthy Way to Bridge the Generation Gap

Raising children in today’s economy is tough, but for the millions of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, they are met with a far greater challenge. According to the US Census and Current Population Survey, there are over 2.7 million grandparents who are responsible for the upbringing of their grandchildren. 20 percent of this growing population, mostly made up of African American women, live at or below the poverty line. Causes of this vary, including everything from a parent’s illness, financial hardship, addiction, incarceration or death. Sacrifices are often made by these seniors to ensure their family members are never taken to foster care - in some cases resulting in a sizeable reduction of their government benefits. These grandparents struggle with the loss of income, even ending up homeless or on the brink of homelessness. In light of the new spring season, I would like to share with you an opportunity to witness how a local Atlanta community of elders raising their grandchildren is working to bridge the gap between the generations by creating easier access to healthy food and better knowledge about nutrition. On Saturday, April 22nd at 10am, The residents of Park Commons Apartments are partnering with HOPE Atlanta to break ground on a 250-square foot community garden that will provide local residents increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Given your previous coverage of this growing trend and community building, I would like to formally invite you to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Park Commons Community Garden.

The community garden will benefit formerly homeless and elderly Atlanta residents who have taken on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. The involved grandparents are part of the HOPE Atlanta Permanent Supportive Housing program which provides services to elderly clients who were formerly homeless. Through case management, the program promotes self-sufficiency of formerly homeless senior citizens through assisted living, stress management training, referral services, health and wellness workshops and legal services. While the program offers many ways for the older residents to personally sustain themselves, many grandparents find it difficult to relate to their grandchildren. The residents hope the activities of the garden will lead to more engagement between the generations while providing them with fresh food that is easily accessible.

Park Commons’ has needed an easily accessible fresh food source for quite some time. The complex is currently located in an urban food desert- an area where there are no grocery stores, farmers’ markets or healthy food providers within a one-mile radius. The absence of nearby grocers, coupled with the age and physical limitations of many Park Commons residents, work to make the task of grocery shopping extremely difficult.

The need for the garden became undeniable when Park Commons residents began receiving an abundance of frozen food donations from various vendors. The grandparent’s desire for more fresh food in their grandchildren’s diet led the residents to plan to start a local community garden to gain access to fresh fruits, vegetables and knowledge about nutrition. Upon learning about the residents’ plan, several volunteers from HOPE Atlanta eagerly fundraised and staff volunteered to help residents prepare the garden’s soil for this season’s planting.

“It is our sincerest wish that HOPE Atlanta’s involvement in the Park Commons community garden project will offer healthier food choices and community building,” starts Edward Powers, Executive Director of HOPE Atlanta. “Through this project, we can jumpstart a change that might lead to a happier and healthier community.”