Springfield Community Gardens gets $67K grant for CoxHealth farm

The nonprofit Springfield Community Gardens was selected for funding to make improvements at a south-side farm it operates in partnership with CoxHealth.

A grant from the Timken Foundation will be used to build a vegetable packing station and propagation house at Amanda Belle’s Farm at Cox South, according to a news release. Anna Withers, the nonprofit's resource development manager, said the grant is valued at $67,000.

"This is an incredible opportunity for our organization as the cost of farming equipment – which already carries a hefty price tag – has been greatly affected by recent inflation. We could not build these structures without this support," Withers said via email.

The new infrastructure will allow Amanda Belle’s Farm to grow and process more produce for CoxHealth hospital employees, low-income residents and patients facing food insecurity, according to the release.

The East Primrose Street farm, on land northwest of the hospital, was named in honor of hospital namesake Lester E. Cox’s mother, according to past reporting.

Springfield Community Gardens operates 16 community gardens and three farm incubator sites, according to the release. The nonprofit was founded in 2010.

The Timken Foundation is the charitable arm of North Canton, Ohio-based manufacturing company Timken Co. (NYSE: TKR).