Growing a Healthy Community
CoxHealth's mission is to improve the health of communities we serve, and we're always looking for innovative ways to do this better. In pursuit of that mission, we've partnered with Springfield Community Gardens to build a community farm in Springfield. Amanda Belle's Farm will be located off Primrose Street across from Cox South. It will grow healthy, organic produce that will be used to feed patients with special dietary needs. Food will also be used in CoxHealth cafeterias and be available for sale to employees through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.
History of Amanda Belle Cox
Amanda Belle Cox was the mother of Lester E. Cox, who was instrumental in saving the hospital from financial ruin in the 1940s and 50s. Amanda Belle's ties to CoxHealth go all the way back to when the hospital was still named Burge Deaconess Hospital and had a single location in North Springfield. She grew produce and stitched quilts to donate to the hospital. Our farm is named in honor of her contributions, and is committed to upholding her generosity and love of community by helping meet the our community's most basic need - nourishment.