Nutrition insecurity is increasing in Iowa and across the nation. Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that one in 13 Iowans face hunger every day. Iowa food pantries experience this situation firsthand as pantry facilities continue to set records for the number of clients served each month.
“Food insecurity isn’t just a statistic or a distant issue; it’s a harsh reality faced by our neighbors, friends, and families,” says Evan Vannausdle, coordinator of the Elliott Community Food Pantry in Montgomery County. “It’s a call to action.”
That call to action has been heard statewide, with gardeners, food pantries, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach collaborating to help provide low-income families with access to fresh produce and nutrition education through Growing Together Iowa.
Extension Master Gardeners and other volunteers in about one-third of Iowa’s 99 counties grow and harvest these community gardens, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 2,300 adults and youth contributed their time to Growing Together Iowa projects in 2023. Since 2016, Growing Together Iowa has distributed over 751,000 pounds of fresh produce. In 2023, the 100 partnering food pantries served more than 82,000 people each month.
“That’s more than 2.2 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables for Iowans, combined with increased skills and knowledge related to nutrition, food safety, food resource management, and physical activity,” says Katie Sorrell (’00), a Growing Together Iowa coordinator.
Each garden starts with collaboration. An extension staff member, Master Gardener, and food pantry director garner community support, enlist volunteers, and obtain a garden location with a sustainable water source. From apples to zucchini, they decide what to grow based on the needs of local food pantry clients.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables are often the most requested item at food pantries,” Sorrell says. “Growing Together Iowa directly meets this need while creating opportunities for extension nutrition education and community volunteerism.”
The initiative is funding 32 county donation garden projects in 2024. This is the fifth year Montgomery County has received a grant. The grant supports donation gardens in the communities of Red Oak, Stanton, and Elliott.
“We have been able to start so many important conversations around food insecurity in our community … and the reach is only continuing to grow,” says Laura Kloewer, board chair of Live Well Montgomery County, a nonprofit organization. “The Growing Together Iowa grant has helped to jump-start so many other initiatives.”
Through Growing Together Iowa, food pantry clients are able to get nutrient-rich foods for their tables and make informed choices for their families’ health as they stretch limited funds. The garden projects are catalysts for local coalitions to strengthen Iowa’s emergency food system and combat nutrition insecurity statewide.
Iowa’s initiative has been recognized nationally and adopted in eight other states.