This story was produced in collaboration with CivicStory as part of the Ecology Civics Reporting Project.

The TCNJ Campus Garden has helped fight food insecurity in Trenton for over a decade, thanks to the community service of Bonner Scholars and student volunteers. Bonner Scholars, who also serve their community in other ways, maintain the garden year round. They manage produce from the moment a seed is planted in soil, until it is later harvested. 

All produce is donated to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, so the crops grown in the garden bring fresh, organic meals to those who need them most. 

Co-published with The Signal. 

Isabella Darcy is a 2025 CivicStory Ecology-Civics fellow and a journalism student at The College of New Jersey who is working to pursue a career in local news.