In the Community

Thundermist Grows is a multi-generational community garden and associated educational program. Thundermist Grows increases the health and well-being of our community by ensuring that families have better access to organic fruits and vegetables (which are often cost prohibitive), increases their physical activity through gardening, and increases opportunities for multi-generational exchange of skills and experiences.

Thundermist opened the community garden in May 2012, which is adjacent to the parking lot of Thundermist’s West Warwick medical and behavioral health center. The garden is home to more than 30 individual raised beds, eight of which are accessible to those in wheelchairs and other physical challenges. It also houses a shared berry and herb garden and a sitting area open to the entire Thundermist community. Gardeners are members of the community, patients, as well as Thundermist staff.

This project engages multiple community partners with the development of the garden, its build-out, and actual gardening and maintenance of the garden. To ensure that our community gardeners have the skills they need to successfully grow food, as well as to increase the amount of organic gardening in our community, Thundermist Grows conducts a community-wide education program.

Working in conjunction with Farm Fresh RI, Thundermist has offered seasonal farmers markets in the communities of West Warwick and Woonsocket. Both markets are open to the community and accept WIC, senior coupons, and credit cards. EBT/SNAP is also accepted at a higher value than regular cash. The markets normally take place at Thundermist locations and run late spring through early fall.

The Thundermist Community Dental Program uses portable dental equipment and offers on-site services in oral examinations, preventative, hygienic and restorative services and classroom-based oral health education.

A dentist and hygienist go to schools, Head Start classrooms, and after-school programs to screen children and then refer them for treatment as needed.

About the Woonsocket Health Equity Zone 

The Woonsocket Health Equity Zone (HEZ) is a collaborative of community partners and residents that focus on health equity. The HEZ works toward a future Woonsocket where people are connected to each other and to community resources that reinforce health and well-being; trusting relationships built on a foundation of mutual respect, cultural sensitivity, and humility exist between residents and resources; and all individuals, families, and children live in safe, nurturing homes within communities that support healthy development. For more information, please send an email to woonsockethez@gmail.com.

About the West Warwick Health Equity Zone

The West Warwick Health Equity Zone (HEZ) was founded in 2015 and addresses health and wellness disparities in the community and builds health equity by leveraging community resources through a collective impact approach. The mission of the West Warwick HEZ is to function as a central resource for West Warwick residents, organizations, local government, and businesses to work together to create a happy, healthy, and safe community where everyone has equitable opportunities to thrive. The West Warwick HEZ values lived experience and works to uplift, and center marginalized voices. The West Warwick HEZ relies on input and guidance from its community ambassadors, residents who are active and engaged in their community and have the passion to promote equity in West Warwick. Ambassadors, who are compensated for their work with the HEZ, learn new skills to create community change and empower others. The West Warwick HEZ focuses on the following priorities and subcategories: overdose prevention and recovery, food access, healthy neighborhoods (housing and transportation), and a crosscutting pillar of focus on trauma. Learn more by visiting the WW HEZ on Facebook.