GROWING TOGETHER MINI-GRANT AWARDED TO DALLAS COUNTY AND WAYPOINT RESOURCES

In the midst of record-setting food pantry usage throughout the state, Growing Together Mini-Grants will provide fresh produce and nutrition education to pantries in 2025 through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s SNAP-Education program.

Dallas County is among those to receive a grant, and the funds will go toward supporting the onsite garden for food pantry produce at WayPoint Resources.

“This grant enables us to supply thousands of pounds of fresh, nutritious vegetables-harvested the same day-to WayPoint Resources clients who are facing challenges in affording food,” says Julie Lins Robeson, lead Master Gardener at the garden. “It’s a real treat for clients to visit the garden once a week for a share of fresh produce. They can even take home a container of herbs for enjoyment all season long.”

Growing Together mini-grants have been funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s SNAP-Education since 2016. This year, additional funding for Growing Together Iowa was provided by Iowa Total Care. Iowa was the first state to create the Growing Together model, which has been replicated in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana. Over the past nine years, the mini-grants have resulted in fruit and vegetable donations of over 850,000 pounds in Iowa.