In a time of economic difficulty and special need, a record number of communities across Iowa are slated to receive Growing Together Mini-Grants through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s SNAP-Education program. A total of 32 projects are being funded, with the goal of increasing food security and promoting healthy food access.
Locally, Osceola County and O’Brien County received grant funding to maintain and expand the community donation gardens in Sanborn and Sibley. Master Gardeners will also work to encourage youth participation in the gardens and coordinate drop sites for community members to leave produce donations for delivery to area food pantries.
Growing Together mini grants have been funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s SNAP-Education since 2016. Iowa was the first state to create this model, which has been replicated in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Wyoming, and Montana. Over the past five years, the mini grants have resulted in food donations of over 434,729 pounds.
“It continues to amaze me how Extension Master Gardener volunteers have built partnerships to increase fresh produce donations to food pantries,” said Susan DeBlieck, master gardener program coordinator. “I am so grateful that the Growing Together projects were already on the ground to respond to increased food pantry need in 2020.”
The projects took on renewed importance in 2020, due to the COVID pandemic and economic challenges. Counties responded with creativity and determination.
Master Gardener volunteers planted donation gardens with partners, supported their community with plant-a-row programs to get more produce into food pantries, and gleaned fresh produce from farmers markets.
“The Growing Together Iowa team was very impressed with the awardees this past year,” said Katie Sorrell, extension education specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Despite a derecho, drought and a pandemic, the Growing Together Iowa counties pivoted to donate fresh fruits and vegetables at food pantries in creative ways.”
This year, the Growing Together Iowa team received a record number of applications, including eight new counties that have never applied before.