Garden Supported by $35,000 Grant from Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation®
Left to right: Donna Castronovo, Vice President, Somerset Health Care Foundation; Scott Schweihofer, Director of Development, Somerset Health Care Foundation, Harold Goodlow, Director, Facilities, RWJUH Somerset; Dinia Mendez, Coordinator, Facilities, RWJUH Somerset; Deirdre Blaus, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Somerset; CJ Cruz, Vice President, Operations, RWJUH Somerset; Saleena Marria, Manager, RWJBarnabas Health Foundation; and Kathleen Haughey-Eannone, Assistant Vice President, Behavioral Health Services, RWJUH Somerset.
Somerville, NJ, Oct. 21, 2026 – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has opened a healing garden for patients in its Eating Disorders Program. The outdoor space will be used for relaxation and meditation as well as teaching patients about gardening and the importance of healthy eating.
The creation of the garden was supported by a $35,000 grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation® Joyful Spaces program to Somerset Health Care Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising arm.
RWJUH Somerset’s Eating Disorders Program provides inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services for individuals age 14 and older for the treatment of eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The program is part of RWJBarnabas Health’s Behavioral Health Services in partnership with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
“Having a beautiful space where our eating disorders patients can be out in nature and work with vegetable plants and flowers will be so beneficial, helping them to reduce anxiety and enhance their mood,” said Deirdre A. Blaus, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Somerset. “At the same time, it will help improve their relationship with food and healthy eating.”
“At the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, we believe every child deserves moments of comfort and hope. We’re proud to support the creation of this healing garden, which will provide patients with a peaceful space to connect with nature, build confidence, and focus on their well-being as part of their recovery journey,” said Mollie Collum, Director of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. “We’re grateful to partner with organizations like RWJUH Somerset that are finding meaningful ways to bring joy and support to children and families when they need it most.”
RWJUH Somerset’s inpatient Eating Disorders Unit is one of only two hospital-based inpatient programs in New Jersey. The 20-bed unit features separate areas for adults and adolescents. In the partial hospitalization program, patients attend programs five days a week. The intensive outpatient program is three days a week. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, nutritional education, medication management, art and music therapy and school-based services for adolescents. Its multi-disciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, registered dietitians, therapists, music, art and recreation therapists and mental health associates.
For more information about RWJUH Somerset’s Eating Disorders Program.
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
Located in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is a nationally accredited, 343-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency, medical/surgical, behavioral health and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents. As a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the hospital maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents.
RWJUH Somerset has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence.
The Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH Somerset together with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – provide access to the most advanced treatment options including clinical trials, cellular therapies and precision medicine, close to home.
For more information, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.
About the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin', provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children's hospitals, and nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and joyful experiences for kids when they need it most. The Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, has granted more than $70 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country thanks to the generosity of its franchisees, guests, vendor partners and employees. To learn more about the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit www.joyinchildhoodfoundation.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.