Boy Scouts Partner with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for Coronavirus Victory Gardens

Fighting Food Insecurity and Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

Today, the Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced a partnership with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware to bring "Victory Gardens" to local families, in an effort to fight food insecurity and promote healthy lifestyles in these challenging times. 

"We are enthusiastic about the Boy Scouts of America Del-Mar-Va Council's modern day Victory Gardens projects, as it not only helps those facing food insecurities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also tackles social determinants of health in a way that will be long-lasting and far-reaching even after this challenging time has passed," said Nick Moriello, President of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. "We applaud their work to provide healthy, homegrown food options and helpful resources to our community."

The partnership allows the Boy Scouts to offer gardening plots to families at Akridge Scout Reservation in Dover, Delaware, along with free online workshops to help families build their own gardens at home. Both the physical plots at camp and the online workshops are supported by master gardeners, Scouting volunteers and staff, starting today. Families can learn more at www.dmvc.org/victorygardens.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware has awarded the Del-Mar-Va Council Boy Scouts a $20,000 grant from BluePrints for the Community. BluePrints for the Community is a donor-advised fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, and has contributed over $15 million to the community since its inception in 2007. It was established to serve Delawareans, with emphasis on, but not limited to, the needs of the uninsured and underserved, and to reduce health care disparities in minority population and address social determinants of health.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware serves approximately 441,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business. It is an influential company in the market generating an economic impact of $135 million and supporting more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmarkbcbsde.com.

The Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America serves more than 13,000 young people with leadership and character-building programs across the Delmarva Peninsula. Through a network of more than 3,000 volunteers and 35 staff, the Del-Mar-Va Council helps young people grow to be healthy, ethical and successful adults. Learn more about the Del-Mar-Va Council’s programs at www.dmvc.org.

Photo: Pictured from L-R: Adreinne Wrona, Del-Mar-Va Council Area 2 Program Director; Mike McGrath, Director of Education, Del-Mar-Va Council; Denée Crumrine, Highmark Delaware Corporate Communications Manager; and Ray Teat, Del-Mar-Va Council  Director of Special Projects, at Ackridge Scout Reserve in Dover, DE, where the Victory Garden plots are being prepared.