At 18th and Broadway in downtown Kansas City, a garden brings neighbors together to grow fresh food for the community. Since 2019, SFS has been part of that effort, caring for adopted raised beds at the 18Broadway Food Pantry Garden.
Just south of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the garden combines food production with sustainable practices, including renewable energy and stormwater management. Businesses, organizations and volunteers share in its care, with the grown food donated to Urban Produce Push (formerly After the Harvest Community Food Network) of Kansas City.
For SFS, that means rolling up our sleeves to water, weed and harvest throughout the growing season. Dirk and Allison, our main garden volunteers, help keep the effort going, sharing updates and encouraging teammates to lend a hand. Whether someone stops by during lunch to water or spends a morning tackling a particularly determined patch of weeds, every contribution helps.
— Dirk Henke, Senior Project ArchitectI’ve always enjoyed gardening, despite not being very good at it, and have maintained some version of a home garden since I was old enough to shovel dirt. Growing your own food is a rewarding, and often humbling process, and to be able to donate fresh produce to those in need makes it even more fulfilling. It also forces me to step outside, breathe some fresh air, soak up some sun, and reset my mind before returning to my desk.
This season’s harvest has included cucumbers, peppers, watermelon, Swiss chard and tomatoes, with sweet potatoes eagerly anticipated. There have been challenges, too: summer heat, tomatoes taking their time to ripen and weeds that seem to thrive under just about any condition. Through it all, our volunteers have brought patience, persistence and plenty of humor.
— Allison Vandever, Senior Project ManagerMy love for gardening began at a young age, working in the garden with my grandparents. Many, many years later, it feels pretty special to have the opportunity to share that love of gardening while contributing to the mission of the 18Broadway Food Pantry Garden alongside others at SFS. Bringing my daughter with me makes it even more meaningful. I want her to experience firsthand that giving back is part of being a good neighbor, caring for others, and being connected to your community.
