Paramedics Plant Garden As Part Of New Healthy Partnership
BLOOMFIELD – The EMS station on South Millvale Avenue in Bloomfield is normally a hub of activity. Workers are always busy responding to emergency calls.
Today, they were busy creating a new vegetable garden.
"I was very impressed with paramedics, you know, assisting and putting this together," says Amera Gilchrist, the District Chief of EMS for the City of Pittsburgh. "All this work was done by them – between calls! It's impressive."
The paramedics planted herbs, vegetables and a variety of tomatoes, which will all be used to cook healthy meals.
"Hopefully, we get some good vegetables out of it," says Jay Elwood, a Pittsburgh Paramedic. "I think one of the agreements was that they would either make some pasta with tomato sauce or some salads."
The project is part of a new push to get emergency workers to eat healthier meals and be more active. The City of Pittsburgh partnered with Pittsburgh Mercy's Intellectual Disabilities Services Alternative Employment and Training Center (AETC).
The partnership benefits both sides. EMS workers get the ingredients for healthy meals, and the people participating in the AETC program's Nature Related Programming get a chance to use their gardening skills. The program is therapeutic, and promotes overall wellness through gardening.
"This is a really good opportunity for us to come here," says Marleen Scholze, a C3 Counselor at Pittsburgh Mercy. "The City of Pittsburgh paramedics really did a good job. They made a nice space for us to…come together and have a great garden."
EMS stations around the city are being encouraged to add similar gardens.
"Just to be a part of the community, to help out, to be here with them and help them," says Elwood. "Whatever we can do to help them…that's our goal."
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