It all began as a simple idea:
Gather growers. Plant in good soil.
Reap a harvest that nourishes and uplifts.
What started as a seed of inspiration has grown into something far greater than anyone could have imagined. In just six months, GIFT Gardens (Growing Iowa Food Together) has blossomed into exactly what its name suggests: a gift to the local community and those facing hunger.
As food insecurity grows and the resources to help feed our neighbors decreases, Ann McGlynn decided to “embrace the giving spirit of growers and offer a way to work collectively, together.” Ann is the executive director of Tapestry Farms and the visionary behind the project. “GIFT Gardens is a chance for people to dig in, quite literally, and make a real difference. Whether you have a pot on your patio or a full backyard garden, every fruit, vegetable, or herb grown and donated helps nourish someone in our community,” she says.
For a small nonprofit like Tapestry Farms, this was an ambitious undertaking. But Ann is no stranger to using small ideas to spark big changes. She turned to partnerships to bring the vision to life, teaming up with the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and all of us here at River Bend Food Bank.
Our community engagement manager, Jayna Gallagher, says “At River Bend, we’ve always known that hunger can happen to anyone and that the solution to food insecurity includes everyone, but we know this now in a new way as the federal funding cuts shine a light on the stark reality of food insecurity in our country and communities. We also know that the solution to food insecurity will not come from any one organization, but from a collective effort like GIFT Gardens, and we are very grateful to be a partner in this effort.”
When the program launched, it set an ambitious goal of growing 5,000 pounds of food for local pantries. While this seems like a tall order, it’s not out of reach for local gardeners. “We know that the small contributions of individuals add up to an incredible amount of food being grown collectively, and if only 100 local gardeners can commit to joining us and growing one more plant in their garden as a GIFT, we can grow thousands of pounds of food,” shares Emily Swihart, extension educator, horticulture, University of Illinois.
One plant. Thousands of pounds of food. This is how a community comes together to make a meaningful impact. Through GIFT Gardens, individuals have not only grown food but also grown hope, resilience, and a sense of shared purpose.
As the holiday season approaches, we invite you to be part of this collective impact. Whether it’s through a direct donation to the food bank or planting your own GIFT Garden next growing season, every contribution matters.
Your investment of time, talent, or treasure today will yield rewards far into the future — and nourish more than just bodies; it will nourish our community’s spirit.