The Oxford Community Garden, located behind the Family Resource Center on College Corner Pike, is a new way of helping families in the community.

Marilyn Elzey, who has been a volunteer for FRC, found the new idea for a community garden and did not hesitate to get involved.

“When I found out, I was excited because I love gardening and always wanted to do it,” Elzey said.

She is now the director for the garden and with FRC has held organizational meetings and received generous donations from the city of Oxford, Ace Hardware, Walmart, Shade Makers, Whistle Stop, Gillman’s and the Miami University greenhouse.

The garden was split into six plots and rented for $10 each to community members and organizations. One big patch of the garden was left for volunteers with the produce to be donated to Oxford Community Choice Pantry.

Juanita Lyons, who rented a plot, is pleased with the work she is doing in the garden.

“I had a garden before and just thought it would be nice, it helps them and it helps me,” Lyons said. “It gives me joy when I watch it grow and when I get ready to eat, I did it myself. I accomplished something and saved money.”

The Bridge Baptist Church also rented a plot of the garden to help get members involved and to produce food for their monthly family dinners.

Josh Parson and his wife, Amanda, lead a children’s church every Tuesday night at The Bridge and try to take the kids out to the garden each week. The kids are able to pick out the seeds and grow the food themselves.

“The kids cook and prepare the food from the garden for the family dinners, they are proud of the garden and fight over who gets to go in first. They are very excited for the watermelon and cantaloupe,” Parson said.

A large amount of produce will be donated to the pantry including tomatoes, potatoes, herbs, onions, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, watermelon and more.

Mike Johnson of the Choice Pantry said they serve nearly 300 families in the Talawanda school district and 80 to 100 households are helped each week. Choice Pantry is the only food pantry in Butler County that allows families to come twice a month.

“The community has been so generous to donate produce,” Johnson said.

For information, visit www.frcoxford.org, e-mail Marilyn Elzey at melzey1013@netscape.net or call Diane Ruther-Vierling at (513) 523-5859.