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ELCA.org/hunger | 7return to help improve our farming system, ultimately improving the lives of our family members.%u201d After college, he had the opportunity to work with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where his interest and passion grew.In 2015, Darius and his family moved to the U.S. However, not until they relocated to Cedar Rapids two years later was Darius able to begin farming. Through networking, he connected with Feed Iowa First and quickly saw a huge demand in the local African immigrant community for culturally relevant vegetables. Many traveled to Minnesota for such produce, a four-hour drive. With the help of Feed Iowa First and ELCA World Hunger, Darius began growing Liberian bitter ball, eggplant, okra, sweet potato vines, hot peppers, collards and cucumbers. He now operates a thriving business %u2014 Nupolu%u2019s Emerging Farms LLC %u2014 which he continues to expand. In 2024, with your support, Feed Iowa First produced 43,655 pounds of fresh, chemicalfree produce. More than 32,000 pounds were delivered to local food banks, pantries, community refrigerators, apartment complexes and clinics. Some of this produce is distributed through the organization%u2019s %u201cveggie van,%u201d which gives vegetables to anyone who stops by %u2014 more than three thousand people last year alone. At one stop last year, a gentleman thanked volunteers for coming to his apartment complex in a part of town where it is difficult to find affordable, fresh, healthy food. %u201cThese are the only vegetables I see all week,%u201d he said. For Feed Iowa First, the act of meeting neighbors where they are is essential when those neighbors face food insecurity, income disparities, health problems, mobility problems and other social disadvantages.Through your gifts to ELCAWorld Hunger, you ensure that people have access to the food they need, which is critical to building vibrant communities where everyone can reach their full potential.Feed Iowa FirstFeed Iowa FirstFeed Iowa First