By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The Growing Well Garden is in its second year now, and organizers are looking for monetary donations to help it flourish.

Matt Janus, exercise physiologist and wellness coordinator, for OSF HealthCare, explains what the garden is about.

“The Growing Well Garden is a community garden on the campus of OSF HealthCare St. James here in Pontiac. It was started last year. It was an idea from Deb (Howard). She got the ball rolling and we got a lot of support from the community and growing a lot of different crops and produce and donating out to the different food pantries in the community, as well,” Janus said.

United Way of Livingston County Executive Director Deb Howard explains how people can donate.

“Last year, we were asking people in the community to donate stuff and this year, it’ll be easier if people could make monetary donations, so we could purchase the plants that we need, as opposed to 700 tomato plants and two cucumbers. So, what we’re looking for is to ask people if they’re interested, and you know, $2 buys tomato plants. It’s not much money. Drop $5 off at the United Way office and we’ll make sure plants get purchased and get in the ground,” Howard said.

For more information, call the United Way office at 844-5131.