The Garden of Hope
Gardening In Our Community
Catholic Charities of Rockland County, NY, realized the need of fresh produce for food pantry recipients, and through this need came a vision for a community-wide gardening initiative. In 2010, Bon Secours Charity Health System made a commitment to join this visionary project by bringing the healing power of plants to the residents, patients and staff of Good Samaritan Hospital and our community. Together we established The Garden of Hope at the hospital in Suffern, NY to complete this virtuous vision.
About the Garden of Hope
The Garden of Hope at Good Samaritan Hospital is a 32' x 40' growing space, which is tended to and maintained through the generous donation of time and effort of volunteers. The garden features a fully-irrigated planting system, as well as a wheel-chair accessible planting bed and vertical growing walls. The garden is located adjacent to the Sheehan Building near the employee parking lot. In addition to providing fresh produce to our local food pantries, our space is host to ongoing horticultural therapy, wellness and educational programming
Location Map
10th Anniversary
We held a celebration this summer to mark the Garden of Hope’s 10th Anniversary. Thank you, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo Supervisor, for attending.
Who We Are
The Garden Ministry of Bon Secours Charity Health System is a group of volunteers, hospital staff, professional horticultural therapists, fundraisers and community members who are dedicated to providing an opportunity to create and nurture the people-plant relationship and to use the fruits of that relationship to bring good help to those in need.
Our Focus
The Garden of Hope is a state-of-the-art planting space, designed with food production, therapeutic benefit and accessibility as its primary goals. We are driven to provide our patients, staff, and community with the opportunity to reap the cognitive, psychological, social and physical bounty that lies within our garden walls.
Guided by the principles of horticultural therapy and grounded in documented research, participation in garden-related activity has shown to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure, decreasing pain and the need for pain-relieving medication, alleviating feelings of depression, stress and anxiety and improving cognition, range of motion and mood. The Garden of Hope serves to be a valuable space of learning about respect for our environment and one another.
Contact the Garden Coordinator Directly:
Anne M. Meore, LMSW, HTR
Garden Projects Coordinator
845-422-2785
Anne.Meore@wmchealth.org
Make a Gift
Your tax deductible contributions are welcome and will help support the Garden Ministry of Bon Secours Charity Health System.
Volunteer Your Time
We invite you and/or your family and friends to join our Garden Ministry and help us tend to the garden or assist with educational efforts. Whenever you have time to spare, or wish to visit with a youth group, scout troop, your company, or a group of friends, we can provide you with a meaningful garden experience, while you offer your helping hands.
Share Your Resources
The Garden Ministry of Bon Secours Charity Health System is ready, able and willing to help connect you, and any resources you may have to offer with the needs of our community.
Address
Please send donations and inquires to:
Bon Secours Charity Health System
Attn: Foundation Office/Garden Fund
255 Lafayette Avenue
Suffern, NY 10901
(p) 845.368.5151