Goshen Health’s Tower Garden Program has expanded to reach more students across the region. Originally launched in Goshen Community Schools in 2023, the initiative has grown to include five local school districts including Concord, Elkhart, Fairfield, Goshen and Middlebury. A total of 29 gardens are currently supported by Goshen Health through the program.
This summer, hundreds of local children won’t have to worry about their next meal. Goshen Health is once again offering free frozen backpack meals along with their Summer Health Lunch Bunch education program to support families and improve community health.
Goshen Health is making it easier for local families to get active together this summer—no gym required. Through its Park Bench Fitness program, developed in partnership with area parks departments, residents can access free guided workouts in the very spaces they already enjoy.
Sprouts Kids Club, a free program offered by the Goshen Farmers Market, encourages healthy food choices by providing kids with tokens to spend on produce from local farmers. Starting in May, kids can participate in the program every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. The program runs through October.
Goshen Health has expanded its popular indoor tower garden program, now reaching more local schools. These garden units enable students to easily grow fresh, nutrient-rich food year-round in their classrooms. More than 4,000 students have participated in the program to date.
Goshen Health is partnering with the Council on Aging of Elkhart County in an upcoming educational event. Dr. Rebecca Johnson from Goshen Physicians Family Medicine will lead a presentation on healthy eating and preparing meals for one. This free informative session aims to provide practical tips and strategies for individuals looking to improve their dietary habits.
To spark conversation and awareness surrounding mental health, Goshen Health is partnering with the Noble County Public Library to provide free, family-friendly programming on healthy coping strategies.
Goshen Health has completed its 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The health system collected primary and secondary data to obtain an accurate account of the health concerns in the Goshen Health service area. These efforts included engaging in conversations with the community through surveys, focus groups and key informant interviews. A Community Advisory Council, consisting of community leaders and Goshen Health Colleagues, utilized the data sources to identify and prioritize the community’s current health needs.
On Friday, September 6, Goshen Health is partnering with local businesses and organizations in downtown Goshen to offer a free, family-friendly outdoor activity during the First Friday event.
Several new organizations and residential complexes in Elkhart and Kosciusko County now have access to fresh produce this summer thanks to the expansion of Goshen Health’s mobile garden project.
The Summer Health Lunch Bunch program aims to improve the health of the community by providing interactive health education to students and families at targeted summer feeding sites. More than 9,500 students have participated in the program since it began.
The Goshen Farmers Market offers a free program focused on encouraging kids to make healthy food choices. On Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. during the months of May - October, children can participate in Sprouts Kids Club and receive free tokens to spend on fresh produce from local farmers at the market.