 The Hope Garden Project is a labor of love for members of Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church and Douglas-Sarpy County Extension office master gardeners. Now thanks to a grant by the Friends of Extension Foundation, the project will continue to make a difference in providing food security. The garden project was among eight grants awarded by Friends of Extension Foundation totaling more than $6,600.
Since 2010 the Hope Garden Project has produced thousands of pounds of fresh produce benefiting Heartland Hope Mission. Last year alone the garden produced more than 8,000 pounds. Proceeds from the grant will go to purchase seeds, plants, tools and other gardening necessities to make this year equally successful. Additional horticultural recipients include the Explorer 4-H Club, which received funding to teach youth about horticulture, specifically water. In addition, Master gardener scholarships will also be funded and funds received by the group will allow for the purchase of new portable tables for educational events in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Other grant recipients include:
 The 2019 Spring Grant Cycle is now open, please access the RFP and submit by April 30. Click here to access the RPF.
Eligibility The Foundation invites grant proposals from Douglas and Sarpy County Extension and 4-H Staff (both paid and volunteer) and program participants, as well as from third parties who are directly partnered with Douglas and Sarpy County Extension and 4-H programs. Criteria Grant proposals will be considered via the competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Grants will be awarded according to criteria that the application activity strengthens the capacity of Douglas and Sarpy Extension and 4-H to meet local community-based needs. Criteria details are listed under the section RFP Requirements, below. Categories Grants will be awarded in the following areas:
1. The Community Environment Team will produce videos for the website and YouTube channel. Amount awarded, $500. The videos will illustrate essential edible and ornamental landscape best management practices.
Project Cinderella will support the organization Dress A Girl Around the World, an offshoot of Hope for Women International, which is dedicated to protecting and enriching the lives of young women and girls all across the globe. They are based primarily in Uganda, but have distributed dresses to needy girls in over 80 different countries. Becca stated, "By supporting the organization through my Diamond Clover Project, I will be contributing to a better and brighter future for the world." Becca will coordinate sewing days to sew 100 dresses to be used for the project. 3. Omaha Home for Boys – Valley View 4-H Club. The grant would fund experiential learning through raising and showing livestock. The teaching goals for this grant targets Youth: teaching Urban Ag, Nutrition, Life skills, Entrepreneurship and civic responsibility. This grant will support the club and the 4-H goals. The Valley View 4-H Club at OHB is over 40 years old. They have used 4-H to teach youth life skills for decades. Amount awarded, $1,000. 4. 4-H School Enrichment Grant – This grant will purchase new incubators for the embryology project offered in the schools. The goal of the 4-H staff is to expand the program to reach every 3rd grade class in the Douglas/Sarpy unit. This grant would support the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) efforts of the 4-H program. Amount awarded, $1,000. Experience has shown that embryology in the classrooms has sparked science interest in all ages of youth. It has led to inquiry and anticipation for the day those chicks hatch. Yet even though it’s a great experience, the learning that is involved is the real reason that this program is successful. 5. Microscopes – Three new (3) microscopes (Infiniview LCD Digital Microscopes) will be purchased to be used by the horticulture staff, which includes the Master Gardeners. One microscope would be in the Douglas office, one in the Sarpy office and one used in the field. These microscopes will allow the staff to improve their diagnostic abilities.Amount awarded, $360. 6. 4-H Shooting Sports Program – This grant is requesting funds to purchase fire arms for the program to expand the program in teaching firearms safety. This 4-H project is a long term program with long time volunteers. Amount awarded, $1,000. One of the teaching volunteers stated, "The plan for the grant is to promote youth development and nature conservancy. Douglas-Sarpy County Shooting Sports has noted an increase in participating youth interested in learning new outdoor activities and participating in local competitions. The objective of our shooting sports program is to teach safety, critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving, while developing teamwork, self-discipline, and self-confidence." 7. Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Douglas County Health Center – This grant will fund upgrading and redoing parts of the demonstration garden at the DCHC site. Amount awarded, $705.65. The grant will fund the installation of new hardscape under two bird feeding stations as well as upgrading the garden bed. This garden is used for therapeutic purposes and is in need of upgrading. The changes will allow the MG team to be more effective in maintaining the garden. There are over 700 potential people who can use the garden. This garden is one of 15 in the Douglas/Sarpy Counties area used for education. The Master Gardeners have been volunteering at this garden for five years. Past Grants Recipients:
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