Cranberries to Classrooms: Marion Institute Nourishes SouthCoast

We invited the Marion Institute into our Southcoast Health Community Spotlight this week. Liz Wiley, the Executive Director, joined us. I was honest with Liz during our interview when I told her that while I’ve heard of the Marion Institute for years, I didn’t really know about its mission.

“That’s what we hear all the time,” Wiley said. “People say, ‘I’ve heard of the Marion Institute, but I don’t exactly know what you do.’ We’re actually celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, so we’ve been around for a while."

"Our mission is to engage individuals and communities in root cause solutions that elevate health, food, and environmental equity for all," she said.

LISTEN:  Marion Institute's Liz Wiley on the Fun Morning Show

The Marion Institute consists of four different programs: the SouthCoast Food Policy Council, Frog Foot Farm, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors (a farm-to-food relief program) and Grow Education, which is a farm-to-school program in four school districts on the SouthCoast.

Grow Education is present in all 19 elementary schools in New Bedford, Westport, Wareham, and Old Rochester Regional.

The Marion Institute also has a community wellness program that addresses worksite wellness and individual wellness with a particular focus on health equity and nutrition.

“We want to make sure that where people are being fed the most – whether it’s schools or institutions – they are being supported by equitable, nutritious, nutrient-rich foods,” Wiley said.

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Funding for the Marion Institute

The Marion Institute relies on donors, donations and grants.

“We actually just had our big annual fundraiser called ‘Boogie at the Bog.’ It’s a fundraiser for Frog Foot Farm and Neighbors Feeding Neighbors," Wiley said.

“You ride up to the bogs, put on waders, and get a cocktail," she said. "The bog is flooded, and people can go in and have their cocktails in a bog filled with floating cranberries."

"Incredibly, this year coincided by chance with the Northern Lights,” said Wiley.

There was only one problem.

“I don’t know how we’re going to top that next year," she said.