One night over dinner earlier this year, Erika Herold was talking with her husband, Jim Switzenberg, about people in need in their community.

Herold recalled that Wrightsville resident Alicia Ferrari was organizing a summer lunch program at Wrightsville Presbyterian Church to offer free lunch to school-age children weekdays from June through mid-August.

"I thought it was incredible how many children need this program," Herold said. "I wanted a way to help take a burden off (these families)."

The couple are no strangers to giving back. Switzenberg, one of the owners of John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville, regularly supports families in need through a variety of initiatives, including his participation in food giveaways through the Masons.

"We both thought, 'These kids need more. There should be more help out there,'" Herold said. Working with Don Mann, who operates a farm in Millersville, the couple decided to support the children participating in the summer lunch program - and the greater community as well - through a garden planted next to John Wright Restaurant, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville.

The garden is truly a community effort, with the space donated by Donsco, a Wrightsville-based manufacturer that also donated soil and plants to establish the garden. Specialty Tree Service donated wood for the garden's base layer as well as top soil. Jamie Livelsberger of Electrician Magician wired cameras for the garden. John Wright Restaurant employee Bowen Butler ordered banners and helped with many details while Herold and others got to work cleaning up worn-out, unused garden beds on the property next to the restaurant.

The result of their efforts is the Wrightsville Community Garden sponsored by Donsco, a garden full of native plants and produce, including tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant and more. All items are grown organically without pesticides.

Produce from the garden was used to complement meals provided by John Wright Restaurant weekly for the summer lunch program. The rest of the garden's abundance is available for anyone in the community who would like some, Herold said.

"I think the garden has been a little confusing for some people," Herold shared with a laugh. "I think people are like, 'I can come and take something for free?' Yes, it's here for anyone. It's open to everyone."

Although the summer is winding down, the garden continues to produce vegetables, and Herold plans to plant winter-hardy options such as kale to extend the garden into the cooler weather.

She hopes people will use the garden to supplement their produce needs, while children will have the opportunity to see how plants grow.

"I think a lot of kids don't even know what vegetables look like before they're in a store," Herold said. "They can come and see this. If you have a black thumb, and you can't grow anything, you can come and take something here. If you don't have the space for your own garden, or you travel and can't maintain a garden, come by and grab what you need. It's for anybody."

Encouraged by the response to the garden this year, Herold is looking forward to expanding the space next summer.

In the meantime, she hopes people will stop by and pick some veggies.

"Maybe you have an elderly neighbor who can't get out," she said. "Come by and get something for them. Bring your kids. Come and see what we have."

For more information on the garden, follow "Wrightsville Community Garden sponsored by Donsco" on Facebook.