Community Foundation grant supports local harvest program

This summer, neighbors across the Quad Cities dug into their backyards and community plots with a shared purpose: grow food, fight hunger, and build stronger connections. Thanks to support from the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Transformation Grant, Tapestry Farms has launched GIFT Gardens (Growing Illowa Food Together), a community-driven food initiative.

The program is a partnership between Tapestry Farms, River Bend Food Bank, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office in Scott County, and the University of Illinois Extension office in Rock Island County.

“The idea was simple,” said Ann McGlynn, executive director of Tapestry Farms. “So many gardeners were already sharing their extra produce informally. This project gave us a way to formalize what people wanted to do and connect their bounty directly with local pantries. The program is building community and getting food where it needs to go.”

That formal structure included sign-ups, instructions on weighing and delivering produce, and regular communication to support gardeners. The initiative quickly surpassed expectations: more than 80 community gardeners joined the program, and it is on pace to provide more than 5,000 pounds of produce for River Bend’s network of hunger relief partners.

For River Bend’s Community Engagement Manager Jayna Gallagher, the results are visible and deeply moving. “When the produce arrives at our partners, you see the joy it brings. Guests recognize the freshness, the care. Each delivery represents someone in their community saying, ‘I see you, and I care.’”

The community gardeners also found that the program brought unexpected fulfillment. Amy Paustian, a local farmer and experienced gardener, said, “there is need and there is bounty. The question is, how do we bring it together? With this program, I know that all the fresh food I grow and deliver will be used. I hope people get to taste something new and wonderful.”

Growing up, gardening was work for Matt Schroeder, also a gardener. “I can’t donate a huge amount of money, but I can do this,” he said. “I’ve donated several times this year, and it’s been a cool way to share knowledge with others. It’s broadened my sense of what community means.”

That spirit of connection extended to organizations, too. Monthly calls between Tapestry Farms, River Bend Food Bank, and local extension offices created new working relationships that will last well beyond the growing season. “Through this project, our partners became resources for each other,” McGlynn said. “We’re growing food, and we’re growing a community of care. 

The project also offered a tangible way for people to engage with pressing issues, like the rising need for hunger relief as federal food benefits face cuts. “The Transformation Grant let us bring this project to life, and GIFT Gardens gave our community a way to take action, to connect the dots, and to make a difference,” said Gallagher.

As the season comes to a close, organizers are already looking ahead. Plans include piloting food preservation projects and expanding partnerships so even more fresh food reaches neighbors in need.