John Borden, junior horticulture major, is the leader of Community Fresh Brazos Valley, a project designed to feed hungry people in Bryan-College Station with nutritious foods.

Borden said he founded a small delivery program called Elder-Aid for homebound seniors, which has 13 regular delivery homes, after he realized what a problem it is for many people to afford fresh produce at grocery stores.

Bryan’s Neal Park Garden is flourishing even in the summer heat and despite a few areas where food cannot grow in poor soil. Borden said a weekly potluck event, which also occurs at the park, is what sparked interest among community members in building a garden.

“They have taken to regularly gardening in it, and oftentimes when something is ready to be harvested, it will be picked up as soon as it is ready,” he said.

A unique aspect of the gardens is that they are run by volunteers, Borden said. He anticipates getting more residents on board in the future.

The gardening student said he encouraged volunteers to assist him on Saturday mornings with the Elder-Aid garden for three-hour shifts. In order to continue providing people with fruits and vegetables, he said this helps with delivery and garden maintenance as necessary.

Borden said he hopes to break down the barriers of income, ethnicity and location in order to offer residents more wholesome diet items.

“We can empower individuals and communities with healthy food and healthy places,” he said. “We can do it.”