A couple of area counties are among 30 in the state that are receiving funding to help local food pantries.
“Growing Together Mini-Grants” are being distributed to provide fresh produce and nutrition education to pantries this year through ISU Extension and Outreach’s SNAP-Education program.
Calhoun County is receiving a grant to expand a wheelchair-accessible garden on-site at Opportunity Living with four additional raised garden beds that clients will plant and harvest. Produce will be donated to local food pantries.
O’Brien County will be using a grant to maintain donation gardens and collect excess home gardening produce donations. A container gardening class will be offered to food pantry clients, as well as “Pick Your Own” gardening opportunities.
“Growing Together Mini-Grants” have been funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s SNAP-Education since 2016. Over the past seven years, the mini-grants have resulted in fruit and vegetable donations of almost 650-thousand pounds in Iowa.
