Boston Medical Center (BMC) has expanded its approach to patient care by incorporating innovative programs that extend beyond traditional medicine. This year, they opened a second rooftop garden to provide fresh produce for their food pantry, which supports food-insecure patients. The food pantry, managed by Latchman Hiralall since its 2001 launch, initially aimed to serve 500 people monthly but now reaches 7,000 individuals, offering customized food options based on medical referrals for patients with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and kidney failure. Patients, like Malinda King, have reported positive lifestyle changes due to access to healthier foods, including an increased preference for salads and yogurt.
The rooftop gardens have produced over 6,000 pounds of fresh produce this year, supplementing food from the Greater Boston Food Bank. Managed by Sarah Hastings, the gardens grow culturally significant crops to ensure patients find familiar and nutritious options, helping mitigate the effects of food deserts, which limit access to fresh foods and contribute to chronic health issues. Dr. Anna Goldman emphasizes that providing healthy food can greatly benefit patients managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Most of the garden's harvest goes to the pantry, with a portion also used for patient meals and a staff farmers’ market. BMC hopes to build a greenhouse to maintain fresh food production year-round.
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