WHAT IS THE WINCHENDON FOOD PROJECT?
The Winchendon Food Project is a coalition of individuals, organizations, businesses and faith-based institutions working together to regrow a thriving local food system in Winchendon.

WHY REBUILD THE FOOD SYSTEM?
Winchendon lost its only supermarket in 2015. The closest grocery stores do not accept WIC and have the highest prices in MA. 15% of Winchendon residents get their food at convenience stores and 33% of residents identify as food insecure. Other grocery store chains have looked at the previous IGA location and will not open a store there. The Gardner-Winchendon area has very high rates of chronic diseases with direct ties to healthy eating, such as diabetes, obesity, certain cancers and heart disease.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
At the foundation of the Winchendon Food Project is building mutually beneficial partnerships between everyone involved in how food gets from seed to plate and beyond. This includes opportunities for everyone in Winchendon`s food system - including home growers and gardeners - to get more involved. To understand how home growers in the area can help, Growing Places first wants to understand what Winchendon home gardens are like. We hope you'll tell us the story of your garden and how you want to help regrow a thriving food system in Winchendon!

~ Sam Evers, a member of the HEAL Winchendon Food Project Team