The Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition (UGC) works to solve hunger issues in McLennan County through their community garden located near Baylor University. On May 9th, UGC will host their first annual Roots Day event to raise awareness about senior hunger and provide tools to decrease food insecurity among seniors. UGC was able to organize Roots Day after their partner, the Baylor University Campus Kitchen, received a grant. UGC hopes events like Roots Day and their Junior Master Gardener Training program will educate community members of all ages on the importance of gardening and growing one's own healthy food.

1. Urban Gardening Coalition
solves McLennan County
Hunger Problems
A few short blocks away from Baylor
University’s campus is Baylor’s community
garden, where the Heart of Texas Urban
Gardening Coalition (UGC) works to solve
hunger issues.
On May 9 UGC will host its first Roots
Day event, which they hope becomes
an annual event. UGC hopes to raise
awareness for the issue of senior hunger
and provide community members with
tools to decrease senior food insecurity.
UGC was able to organize Roots
Day after their partner, the Baylor University
Campus Kitchen, received a grant.
“We feel this event is important to
the community because senior hunger
and wellness are serious issues in Waco and
we want to provide an educational and
enjoyable environment to promote overall
senior wellness,” said Kathleen Lokey, UGC
events and volunteer coordinator.
UGC is a nonprofit organization
that works to solve hunger issues affecting
McLennan County and provide better
access to fresh, healthy food.
Lokey said gardening gives people
skills in math, science and other areas.
“Gardening is important because
children can learn where their food
comes from,” Lokey said. “You learn about
gardening, and you learn a lot of life skills as
well.”
UGC partners with organizations such
as the Baylor Campus Kitchen and hosts
events such as Junior Master Gardener
Training and Roots Day to educate
community members of all ages on the
importance of gardening and growing
healthy food.
Coleman Fannin, Great Text lecturer
at Baylor, brought his daughter to Junior
Master Gardener Training where she
learned how to make food from what is
growing in the Baylor Community Garden.
“Its great for her to be outside,”
Fannin said. “It’s a great set of skills for her
to learn.”
Students from the local area
volunteer at UGC and believe students
should learn how to grow their own food
and not rely on restaurants and grocery
stores.
Taylor Anderson Tioga, N.D., senior,
volunteers at UGC to teach community
members, especially students, the benefits
of gardening.
“Students should learn how to garden
because it will end up cheaper than buying
stuff at the store,” Anderson said. “And they
can also teach their friends.”
Contact: Kathleen Lokey |Phone: 254-227-5380 | Email: hotugc@gmail.com