Hope Garden among recipients of Friends' grant

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 Gears in Motion 4-H Club who received funding to assist in their First Lego League Robotics program and competition. The funds will assist the club with the STEM education program dealing with robots.
• The extension office will have new video recording and conference call technology. This new technology is replacing 10+ year old equipment.
• A grant was funded to provide education in food safety. The funds will be used to assist the staff who teach in the food and nutrition and food safety areas.
• The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation's "Ag in the Classroom" programming. The goal of Ag in the Classroom is to teach youth about food locally, regionally and across the country. 

The Friends of Extension Foundation has been offering grants totaling up to $2,500 since 2010. The goal is to assist Nebraska Extension in Douglas and Sarpy Counties with programming. There are two grant cycles each year: one in the spring and fall. Grant categories include; master gardener/horticulture, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), technology, food safety, and agriculture youth education. Funding for the next round of grants is due April 30, 2020.   
 

Grant Information