STORIES
CLIENTS. VOLUNTEERS. FARMERS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ALL HAVE STORIES.
Check into what’s happening at Feed Iowa First, and see the community in action combating food insecurity today and tomorrow by growing food and farmers.
Volunteer Spotlight: Mike and Jay
Carter Oswood to lead Feed Iowa First
The Feed Iowa First Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Carter Oswood has joined the Feed Iowa First team as Executive Director. “Carter brings a deep passion for the Feed Iowa First mission to combat food insecurity by growing food and farmers; great...
Now Hiring Volunteer Engagement and Event Coordinator – AmeriCorps VISTA
Do you have experience with gardening, nonprofit work, event management, and/or volunteer coordination, and are looking to expand your skillset while providing service to the Cedar Rapids community? Feed Iowa First is hiring an AmeriCorps VISTA Service Member! The...
2019 Growing Season Wrap-Up: 20,000 pounds
20,011.5 pounds of produce, to be exact! Thank you to all of our volunteers, growing partners, distribution partners, advocates, and farmer friends for helping us with a community effort to bring fresh, beautiful chemical-free produce to our neighbors in need. 2019...
Welcome Logan, our new AmeriCorps VISTA
Logan joined our team in August 2019 as the new VISTA Farm Coordinator. He says, "I knew I wanted to continue on with AmeriCorps service after my first six months serving as logistics coordinator for the Green Iowa AmeriCorps branch helping people in Cedar Rapids make...
Now Hiring AmeriCorps VISTA Service Member
Do you have experience with nonprofit work, communications, fundraising, and/or gardening, and are looking to expand your skillset while providing service to the Cedar Rapids community? Feed Iowa First is hiring an AmeriCorps VISTA Service Member! The service term...
2nd Annual Feed Iowa First Charity Dinner – Rodina
This charity dinner benefiting Feed Iowa First will knock your socks off with talented local chefs, breweries, and farmers! Please join us at the Second Annual Feed Iowa First Charity Dinner! This event is to feature 4 local chefs, 4 local beverage makers, and 4 local...
September Harvest Update
We are happy to report that at this point in our 2019 growing season, Feed Iowa First has harvested 8,466 pounds of fresh, healthy produce! After May, June, and July, our total poundage of produce was around 2,750 pounds. In August we harvested a whopping 5,715...
Linn County Board of Supervisors awards Feed Iowa First over $3,000 through Witwer Trust Fund
Feed Iowa First has been awarded over $3,000 from the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust Fund for 2019. This funding goes toward Feed Iowa First's AmeriCorps VISTA program, which is essential to Feed Iowa First carrying out daily operations and long-term...
The Accel Group donates $5,000 to Feed Iowa First through the Rough Notes Company, Inc. award
The Accel Group, a proud Grow Don't Mow partner of Feed Iowa First, has been recognized for their community work with Feed Iowa First in fighting food insecurity in Linn County. Through the Rough Notes Company, Inc., a generous donation of $5,000 has been given to...
Feed Iowa First farm map 2019
View full map here. Check out who is growing with Feed Iowa First this year! The Accel Group ADM Alliance Church Bluebird Farm Christ Episcopal Church Collins Aerospace Echollective Faith Lutheran Church First Baptist Church First Congregation United Church of Christ...
Feed Iowa First hosts first Bus Tour
On Wednesday, April 17 at 4:30 p.m., Feed Iowa First hosted our first-ever Bus Tour. Participants traveled from the shop to Feed Iowa First's urban farm at River of Life Church, which is growing peas and sweet potatoes. The bus stopped at Olivet Mission next, where...
May Shop Update
A flurry of activity has come over the shop since those last March flurries melted away. A once dry, dusty climate now is heavy with moisture and oxygen and glows with full spectrum light. Each lighted rack is jam-packed with little green babies emerging from neat...
Frontier Co-op donates $20,000 to Feed Iowa First through the Simply Organic Giving Fund
Frontier Co-op has generously donated $20,000 to Feed Iowa First through their Simply Organic Giving Fund, which strives to nourish the millions of food insecure in the United States by providing access to healthy, organic food options. Simply Organic is a brand of...
An anniversary surprise
When you think about the perfect gift to celebrate an anniversary, what comes to mind? Would it happen to be the gift of fulfilling a favorite local nonprofit's wishlist? For Matt McGrane and David Maier, it was! Matt purchased nearly every item on our wishlist,...
Nutrition Notes from the Board: Spring 2019
From Dr. Hannah Anderson, Feed Iowa First Board of Directors: I originally met Sonia in a networking meeting where she explained the health care crisis through her farmer eyes. As I thought about my own role in a world with decreasing life expectancies, I felt like...