photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Ballard Center, 708 Elm St., is pictured on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

A Lawrence nonprofit that promotes local food access and hires young gardeners is integrating with the Ballard Center to help bring more free and fresh produce directly to the community.

“We believe that access to fresh food should be welcoming, dignified, and community-centered,” Ballard COO Will Averill said in a news release. “This partnership with Growing Food Growing Health allows us to provide a safe and comfortable space where neighbors can gather, connect, and leave with healthy food for their families.”

Starting on June 1, community members will be able to visit the food pantry for fresh produce from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These open pantry hours are specifically for fresh produce. Clothing and other services through Ballard Community Services will continue to be offered by appointment only.

As the Journal-World reported, the Ballard Center began partnering with Growing Food Growing Health last year to provide produce for the new pantry. The Ballard Center applied for a $5,000 grant from the Douglas County Community Foundation to get a cooler to hold the fresh produce from Growing Food Growing Health.

The fresh produce has also let the Ballard Center’s cook reduce processed foods in favor of fresh and local produce for the kids at the school.

The produce is grown by a group of high school students at a garden at West Middle School, which is managed by Growing Food Growing Health. The produce is entirely student-grown and is eventually donated to anyone in the community needing access to fresh, sustainably grown vegetables at no cost.

To celebrate the launch of Growing Food Growing Health as an officially new Ballard program, a free outdoor market is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 27 in the parking lot of the Ballard Center pantry, 708 Elm St.

The event will feature live music, fresh produce and a raffle for a Lawrence Farmers Market basket filled with local treats. Friends from Sunrise Project will also be in attendance to share information about their communal meal programs and community initiatives. K-State Research and Extension Master Food volunteers will also be at the event.

For questions and more information on the Ballard pantry, contact Kathrine Ward, community services director, at kathrine@ballardcenter.org or 785-842-0729.

For questions about Growing Food Growing Health, contact Nancy O’Connor at Nancy@growingfoodgrowinghealth.org.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The produce pantry, which will include fresh produce from Growing Food Growing Health, is in a refrigerator within the Ballard Center’s new building addition.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Several Free State High School students, pictured Tuesday, October 8, 2024, help harvest vegetables for people in need through a program called Growing Food Growing Health.