Living Healthy Washington County strives to make a positive difference in the community by working to create health-friendly policies, programs and resources that make it easier for residents to make healthy choices in their daily routines.
Living Healthy Washington County is funded, in part, by a grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), Minnesota Department of Health, a state-based program that works at the local level to support healthier communities by expanding opportunities for active living, healthy eating, well-being and commercial tobacco-free living.
2023 included the launch of our second Healthy Opportunities for People through Equity (HOPE) site in Oakdale, joining our first HOPE site, Landfall. HOPE is a data-driven initiative designed to identify areas within Washington County where residents are experiencing poor health outcomes. We work alongside residents to support community-led solutions to address their health priority areas.
When applications opened for the 2023 growing season, nearly 60 people applied to rent the 26 available garden plots. Demand was high among West African residents who were interested in not only growing culturally important foods, but also drawn to an activity that would bring the community together, reducing stress and isolation. Many others shared that gardening helped them feel a connection to their homeland and childhood memories.
