Middle Country Library Foundation Receives $325,000 Donation from Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation to Expand Nutrition, Gardening Programs
In celebration of Sprouts Farmers Market’s store opening in Centereach, the three-year partnership will bring hands-on health and wellness programs to 62,000 residents
Published: January 5, 2026
With Sprouts Farmers Market opening its first New York store on January 30, 2026 in Centereach, the Middle Country Library Foundation has received a $325,000 donation from the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. This investment will launch a three-year partnership to expand hands-on nutrition education, gardening and wellness programs offered at the library.
“The cornerstone of this partnership will be helping people learn real world skills to make healthier choices in their everyday lives,” said Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, director of the Middle Country Public Library. “Sprouts’ investment is transformational and will allow us to scale our gardening and nutrition education programs in a way we’ve never been able to do until now.”
At the heart of the partnership is a new 600-square-foot educational greenhouse that will serve as a hub for hands-on programs, where community members of all ages will be able to engage in workshops and lessons that bridge gardening, nutrition and environmental education. A mix of indoor and outdoor garden beds will allow for year-round programs, including seed starting, the basics of setting up an edible garden at home, and composting in small spaces. Using seasonal vegetables harvested on site, plus fresh ingredients from the new Sprouts Farmers Market store, cooking classes will help kids and adults build real skills to shape their meals at home.
“Positive experiences like growing, tasting and preparing fresh nutritious food help spark a desire to make healthier food choices for people at any age,” said Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. “These moments not only build skills, but they also build community, and we’re thrilled to play our part.”
Together, the Middle Country Public Library and the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation will support seasonal events and year-round educational opportunities, including:
• Let’s Eat: Farm to Table Exhibit: A hands-on exhibit where young children can harvest, shop, and cook in a play-learning environment. Join us for the opening celebration on Saturday, February 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Annual Spring Jubilee and Fall Festival Events: Community gatherings and special events that highlight seasonal hands-on activities.
• Workshops and Nutrition Programs: Co-hosted with Sprouts to deliver hands-on gardening, nutrition education, and healthy cooking workshops for kids and families.
• Green Teens Volunteer Activities: Projects such as planting trees, maintaining the library’s butterfly garden, and supporting the greenhouse events will provide youth with opportunities to get involved.
“Being a part of our community is core to Sprouts values and one of the ways we bring our purpose of helping people live and eat better to life,” said Nick Farley, store manager of the Centereach Sprouts. “Our entire store team is looking forward to getting involved and building meaningful connections through this partnership.”
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation partners closely with community-based organizations to advance nutrition education, health and wellness programs in the states where Sprouts operates. This year, an estimated six million youth and two million adults will participate in programs supported by the Foundation.
For more information on the upcoming events at Middle Country Public Library, visit www.mcplibrary.org, or for more information on the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation visit www.sprouts.com/foundation.
ABOUT MIDDLE COUNTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Middle Country Public Library (MCPL) serves as a dynamic community hub with comprehensive programs and services that meet the needs of local residents and, through grants and fundraising, provides leadership and training for libraries across Long Island and the nation. Since its inception in the mid-1950s, MCPL has been redefining the public library. Working in partnership with the business, social service, health, education, civic and philanthropic communities, Middle Country has evolved into a forward-thinking organization, willing to learn about and adopt concepts from other industries, and then integrate them within the public library setting.
ABOUT THE SPROUTS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, established in 2015, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization focused on advancing nutrition education, nutrition access, and health and wellness programs in the states where Sprouts Farmers Market operates. Understanding that healthy habits are formed at a young age, the Foundation champions youth gardening and cooking programs that teach children skills for healthy eating and lifestyle choices that can be carried into adulthood. Through partnerships with hyper-local community organizations, the Foundation also works to expand nutrition access and wellness programs that serve families and adults. Since 2015, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded $50 million in grants. To learn more, visit Sprouts.com/foundation.
ABOUT SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET
Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States. Sprouts helps people live and eat better with fresh produce at the heart of the store and delicious discoveries for every dietary lifestyle. Always foraging for what’s fresh and innovative, Sprouts offers a carefully curated assortment of products that inspire wellness naturally, including organic, gluten-free, plant-based and non-GMO favorites. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Sprouts employs approximately 35,000 team members and operates more than 450 stores in 24 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts and the role it plays in its communities, visit sprouts.com/about
