Quinnipiac Students Assemble Garden Kits For The Community

Quinnipiac University occupational therapy students, front from left, Madison Considine and Heather Cheesman, help distribute garden kits in the Hamden community on June 24. Quinnipiac and United Way volunteers teamed up to assemble and deliver 30 pots containing flowers, herbs and vegetables.

HAMDEN, CT - Quinnipiac University student Angel Wang, a summer intern at the Keefe Center Community Garden, was thankful for the bountiful volunteers who donated their time Thursday for the United Way of Greater New Haven’s Week of Action.

“It is very rewarding to see people get in there and get their hands dirty and help out,” said Wang, a rising sophomore in the entry-level Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies/Master's Physician Assistant (ELMPA) program, is interning at the garden through the university’s Albert Schweitzer Institute.

Quinnipiac and United Way volunteers teamed up Thursday to expand access to community garden resources in Hamden. The group of 26 assembled 30 garden kits in the morning at the Keefe Center.

Each bucket contained soil as well as an herb, a vegetable and a marigold and were to be distributed to residents in the afternoon.

“We are extending the garden into the community and helping to address food insecurity,” said Sean Duffy, executive director of the Schweitzer Institute and professor of political science at Quinnipiac.

The garden is managed by the Schweitzer Institute in partnership with the Keefe Center and the United Way. University students, faculty and staff have cultivated the garden and hosted events there since March of 2020.

In addition to assembling garden kits Thursday, the volunteers also weeded and mulched and harvested vegetables and herbs to be donated to the Keefe Center food pantry.

Kim Braun-Cohen volunteered with her children, Kamryn and Leo, 10 and 8, respectively.

“I thought it would be a great project to do with the kids,” the North Haven resident said. “I am trying to teach my children that it is important to support your community and help out when needed. We drive by the Keefe Center quite often. It has been a delight getting a chance to see this beautiful garden. Quinnipiac did a great job making it a little hidden gem and sanctuary.”

The group of volunteers included six Quinnipiac students. Madison Knibbs and four of her fellow occupational therapy classmates delivered the garden kits to neighborhood homes.

“Being OT students, we know that health management is such an important domain,” she said. “To have days like this where you are helping people to better their lives and quality of life is really important.”