The Farm at Trinity Health Dedicates Robin’s Hoop House
September 9, 2025
By: The Farm at Trinity Health
Categories: Community Health, Men's Health, Women's Health
On August 1, a hoop house at The Farm at Trinity Health Oakland was dedicated in honor of Robin Henderson. Robin and her husband, Jim, Bloomfield Hills, have been loyal, long-standing patrons of the hospital and The Farm as well as patients themselves welcoming all four of their children in the hospital’s nationally recognized labor and delivery unit.
“I was very, very honored to have a hoop house named after me,” Robin said. “It really means a lot to me to be so connected to The Farm and all of its good works.”
Hoop houses are vital to The Farm’s operations, allowing for extending the growing season and protecting plants from the elements. They help The Farm team grow crops earlier in the spring and later into the fall.
The Hendersons’ generosity also advances various unique programs at The Farm including the Farm Share, The Farm’s version of a community supported agriculture program (CSA) offering locally grown, in-season produce to members; as well as Produce for Patients, a program that allows physicians to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to their patients that otherwise may not have access to the fresh foods that benefit their health. Their commitment and generosity also sustain an annual summer internship program, which has recently been renamed the Henderson Food is Medicine Internship.
Introducing the Henderson Interns
The Henderson Food is Medicine Internship program offers two paid 16–20-week internships each year where participants learn sustainable agriculture practices, become well-versed in interacting with community members of all backgrounds, hone important communication skills, and maintain critical operations of The Farm. The first two Henderson interns are Kyle Campbell, a junior at Michigan State University and Viraj Nautiyal, a sophomore at Brown University, both from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Kyle and Viraj were excited about the value of the internship toward achieving their career goals.
“I would definitely say that this internship allowed me to apply some of the things I’ve learned at MSU via hands-on experience,” said Kyle. “It was nice to grow a great variety of crops and flowers – I really like working with different kinds of plants. Working outside builds character as well – it requires a lot of discipline to work on those hot days.” He added, “Learning the proper procedures for storing and refrigerating produce; this will be very valuable information to have since I’ll most likely do farming as a career.”
“My goal throughout my career is to seek public office and concentrate on introducing effective and equitable health policies,” said Viraj. “This internship was important in these goals as it made me more empathetic towards those I wish to serve while working in a grassroots setting that helps me experience how policies manifest when they're actually applied.”
Both Kyle and Viraj were delighted to meet the Hendersons at the hoop house dedication and personally express their gratitude.
As Viraj said, “I’m incredibly appreciative of this internship program because it has allowed me to serve the community and further my career goals, however, none of this would have been possible without the support of the Hendersons that brought this internship program to life. I'm honored to have met them in person to thank them.”
“Jim and I love Trinity Health and are so happy we can support it in any way we can,” Robin added. “There are so many interesting and impactful programs at Trinity Health we like to support the innovation and are proud to know we are helping our community now in the future.”
For more information about The Farm at Trinity Health Oakland, contact Jill Schubiner, gift officer, Trinity Health at 248-417-9974.
