TOLEDO, OHIO, January 9, 2025 – The Board of Trustees of Greater Toledo Community Foundation has approved a grant from The Sisters of St. Francis Foundation Donor Advised Fund to Toledo GROWs in the amount of $30,000. These funds will be used to enhance the work that Toledo GROWs is doing to support community gardens and education about gardening.
The grant will be used to provide technical assistance, seeds, seedlings, and other gardening resources to gardeners in 105 community gardens throughout the greater Toledo area. Most of the gardens are located in areas of limited food access, serving low and moderate income individuals. Toledo GROWs provides education and technical assistance in building and maintaining gardens where community members come together toward a common goal: to provide food for themselves and their neighbors.
Additionally, the grant will enhance Toledo GROWs’ educational programming for youth by providing support for a new Youth Earth Literacy Program. The program will use colorful, engaging books to explore concepts such as food and environmental justice, pollinators, and healthy eating.
“We are grateful to partner with the Sisters of St. Francis to ensure that everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy food,” said Yvonne Dubielak, Executive Director. “By providing resources, assistance, and education for people to grow their own food, we are empowering individuals to feed their families now and in the future.”