Port Chester Community Gardens Inc. has received formal approval to operate as a public charity in New York state, it was announced by Alex Payan, the organization”™s founding member and president.
The group”™s mission is to promote access to locally grown food, inform the community about healthy eating and sustainable living and reuse vacant or underused land through the operation of community gardens.
Payan previously helped develop the Weber Community Garden and plans to use a partnership with the Port Chester Housing Authority to transform vacant plots of land into additional gardens for its residents.
“We will offer neighborhood youth a place to develop and grow through hands-on learning, so they can later share their knowledge on healthy and sustainable living. Port Chester Community Gardens will encourage food, social and environmental sustainability through practice, awareness, advocacy in public policy supporting community gardens,” said Payan.