Page 6 - Demo

Sharing God%u2019s bountiful harvestIn Iowa, your generosity is transforminglives through fresh, healthy produce. CedarRapids is a metropolitan area surrounded bysmall, rural communities. Though the cityis known as a good place to raise a family,its government struggles to support the needs ofa growing marginalized population that includesmany immigrants. By one estimate, 11% of thecounty%u2019s adult population is food-insecure and40% of those individuals do not qualify for federalfood assistance such as the Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program (SNAP).Feed Iowa First, which is supported by your giftsto ELCA World Hunger, is a grassroots communityof businesses, faith organizations, schools, farmersand volunteers that combats food insecurity by%u201cgrowing food and farmers.%u201d The food productiontakes place on underutilized urban land in andaround Cedar Rapids, including at a handful ofELCA congregations. At St. Andrew LutheranChurch, Feed Iowa First set up an urban farm withbitter gourds, cucumbers and sweet peppers. Thegarden at Faith Lutheran Church in Marion growsleeks %u2014 over 125 pounds just last summer.A key part of this food production is to increaseaccess to farmland for a diversity of farmers,including immigrants, so they can grow cropsfor their families and communities and buildsuccessful businesses. Darius Nupolu, a graduateof the farming program, grew up in a small villagein Liberia with his father. %u201cFarming was the onlymajor source of income for our family,%u201d Dariusshares. Income from their family farm providedfor Darius%u2019 education, and over time, he becamemore interested in agriculture. When he completedhigh school, he says, %u201cI told my dad that I wasgoing to college to study agriculture so that I wouldFeeding ministries provide immediate support to those in need. With communitygardens and agricultural programs, communities grow food to nourish themselves andbuild stronger futures.NUTRITIONFeed Iowa FirstFeed Iowa FirstFeed Iowa FirstWith your support, Darius (right) began growingLiberian produce in Iowa. He now operatesa thriving agricultural business.6 | LifeLines