The rooftop garden at the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center has become a key initiative in sustainability and community support, providing fresh and organic produce to campus groups including the CU Anschutz Food Pantry and the DAWN Clinic. This year’s harvest includes a diverse array of herbs and vegetables—basil, sage, oregano, cilantro, chives, kale, cucumbers, squash, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and mixed greens. The partnership allows the Food Pantry and the DAWN Clinic to distribute organic produce, offering essential, nutritious food to those in need.
Anita Bancroft, the Manager of Community Nutrition Programs at AHWC, describes the rooftop garden as a symbol of AHWC’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and community health. “Consuming garden-fresh vegetables has numerous benefits, including maximizing nutritional value and better taste. Our goal is to encourage healthier dietary habits by sharing fresh produce from our garden and providing recipes and culinary suggestions for lesser-known vegetables and herbs. This initiative is our way of extending crucial support to those in need, while also promoting the advantages of garden-fresh produce.”
The Anschutz Medical Campus Food Pantry plays a crucial role in supporting the campus community by providing a variety of non-perishable and fresh food items to individuals facing food insecurity or limited access to nutritious options. Operating on donations and community support, the pantry enhances its offerings with fresh produce from the AHWC garden, delivering healthier choices to its patrons. Shantall Valencia, Case Manager for CU Anschutz Office of Student Outreach and Support says, “Fresh produce is always the first item to go in the Food Pantry, and this partnership helps our efforts to get fresh, nutritious food to Food Pantry visitors.”
Similarly, the DAWN Clinic, a student-run free clinic, serves the uninsured and underinsured population of Aurora. By offering medical, dental, and behavioral health services, the clinic addresses the comprehensive needs of its patients. The addition of fresh produce from the AHWC garden not only supports the patients' nutritional health but also underscores the clinic’s holistic approach to healthcare. Ryan Mockabee, Executive Director for DAWN Health, applauded the partnership stating, "DAWN Health and our patients are so incredibly grateful for this partnership. Co-locating healthy food resources at our evening clinics has made it convenient and easy for our patients to have fresh food in their homes. Many of the patients that come to DAWN live in areas of Aurora considered "food deserts", especially with the recent departures of some grocery stores. The partnership with the AHWC on this aligns closely with the ethos of DAWN - community members coming together, contributing what they have, in order to help each other."
The partnership between the AHWC green roof garden, the Anschutz Medical Campus Food Pantry, and the DAWN Clinic exemplifies how community-driven initiatives can foster wellness and support diverse populations.