Stockton University students participating in the Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program organized an event on March 20 aimed at tackling food insecurity in Atlantic City.
The initiative, called Plant It Forward, was created by seniors Sadia Mahi, Betsaida Viljoint, and Dayanara Villenueva. The project sought to introduce residents to fresh food options and encourage home gardening or participation in community gardens. The effort comes as many local families face challenges accessing fresh produce, particularly those with dietary restrictions such as halal.
Mahi said her family often has to leave the city to find fresh food. “Atlantic City is considered a food desert. While we do have a lot of grocery stores here, sometimes it’s not always fresh food, so my family and I always have to go out of the city to find stuff,” she said.
Viljoint added that transportation and childcare can be barriers for some families: “A lot of people don’t have cars or they don’t have time to go to the market because they have young children that they can’t leave home alone.” The Plant It Forward event featured a sustainability lecture, hands-on planting activities led by Alexis Flack from Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces (C.R.O.P.S.), and the launch of a new seed library for city residents.
Jorge Azcona from C.R.O.P.S., who demonstrated seed planting techniques during the event, said he appreciated seeing students take action: “My passion is community programming, outreach and engagement, and my overall goal is to just give back to the community that helped raise me. So, seeing people who are actually passionate about helping the community, it’s always very heartwarming for me.”
Susan Davenport, faculty liaison for ELSP at Stockton University, praised the project: “Attendees were diverse, multigenerational and seemed excited to learn more about growing their own food and learning about the existing community resources available to them. The Engelberg Scholars program focuses on applying leadership principles to improving Atlantic City and the surrounding communities. The seed library and resource materials they worked together to create will have a lasting impact on our community.” According to Azcona, after its initial stay at Kesselman Hall on campus, the seed library will move permanently into Fisherman’s Park.
As graduation approaches for Mahi, Viljoint and Villenueva this May, all three expressed gratitude for being part of ELSP. Viljoint reflected: “This program had me focused on school and not on finances… As it’s coming to the end it’s just a really good feeling because I got to do something for the community that I’ve lived in for the past 18+ years.” Mahi added hopes that future events will continue supporting local residents: “In the future I want to continue doing stuff like this so that it’s something people can keep coming back to… I want to continue giving back to the community.”
