On the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Campus, there sits a happy little garden just outside of the Balboa Avenue Older Adult Center. At the entrance, just above its iron gate, now hangs a new sign, “Pauline Foster Seeds of Change Garden”. More than ten years ago, when we envisioned having a garden on our Campus we knew the garden could help support the Loonin Family Kitchen which produces thousands of meals each year and The Corner Market which supports thousands of San Diegans.

We also knew it was important to be mindful of where our food comes from, to understand that and be reminded that food is medicine and critical to good health.

Back then, we never thought the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Campus would be the home to almost a hundred individuals and children each night as part of our Safe Parking Program. The garden is what makes this corner of our parking lot so much more than just a place to park.

The garden was first planted in 2016 at the suggestion of long-time supporter and volunteer, Tammy Vener. Tammy led the charge to plant and maintain the garden with a core group of JFS Volunteers: Jerri-Ann Jacobs, Cheryl Price, Lynn Sampson, and Dianne Shapp. Every week, they harvest several pounds of seasonal produce—from tomatoes and strawberries to beans and snap peas, and more—and take it over to The Corner Market where families experiencing hunger can take home the freshly picked fruits and vegetables.

Beyond providing this healthy bounty, the garden also serves as a place for connection. People have an innate connection to nature, and simply being around plants can trigger positive emotions. Older adults stop by to ask what is growing; staff enjoy seeing the garden come to life over time; and Foodmobile and On the Go drivers always wave when they pass by.

The garden is also our expression of the shared value of Tikkun Olam (repair the world). How we take care of our earth, how we care for the people we serve, how we walk in this world is how we begin to repair our world. Planting a garden represents a commitment to the future. A belief in the potential for growth and positive change. It is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the continuation of life, and a reminder to the individuals and families who turn to JFS that hard work always yields reward.

Pauline spent most of her adult life volunteering for and leading organizations that she thought would make the world a better place. As a force for change in her own lifetime, she was the first woman president of the United Federation in San Diego, the Jewish Community Foundation, and the United Way. From Congregation Beth Israel to the Museum of Contemporary Art, and UCSD, she gave her time and her good fortune back to the community she loved. JFS held a special place in her heart as she understood how important it is to provide vital human services to those in need.

Pauline also had a passion for food before “foodie” was a descriptive term. She loved to eat, was an excellent cook, grew herbs and fruit, and was a devotee of local farms. Pauline also knew that eating fresh fruits and vegetables was not only delicious, but healthy. And she believed that everyone was entitled to healthy food regardless of their financial circumstances. To Pauline, fresh produce should be a human right.

If Pauline were with us today, we know she would be especially pleased that the garden’s bounty is being shared with her beloved community. In the words of Pauline, “Sharing with other people is very gratifying.”