The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Marie Noplos/Daily Journal: United Way Director Mary Phillipe helps Gordy and Marian Grage of Dalton pick out a box of fresh vegetables and fruits during the Cancer Care and Research Center Garden Share Monday morning.

By Marie Noplos

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Sharing the bounty of fall

Published 10:55am Tuesday, September 11, 2012

It was a special day of giving Monday at the Lake Region Health Care Cancer Care and Research Center. The United Way and the cancer center joined forces to help promote healthy eating for patients who are receiving cancer treatment and for patients’ post-treatment.

“We thought the idea of a garden share was a great project to combine the spring garden planting along with the fall harvest of our produce,” said Jason Bergstrand, wellness director for the cancer center. “We knew our spring planting project (and) the help of the Boy Scouts wouldn’t produce enough vegetables and fruit, so we turned to our community.”

Locals brought in fresh home-grown fruit and vegetables early Monday morning. From tomatoes to plums, watermelon to peppers, each flat was filled with more than 12 different varieties of fresh food. Volunteers from the cancer center and the United Way spent the morning dividing and sorting the different varieties for the patients.

With the generosity of locals and volunteers from around the community, around 30 cancer patients and post-cancer patients will be eating healthier.