By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Hy-Vee and West Bloomington Active Garden are among the hundreds of community organizations and Hy-Vee stores to receive a $1000 One Step Garden Grant.
The grants, awarded by Hy-Vee, are used to purchase seeds, plants and other gardening tools. Hy-Vee Store Director Andrew Cochran said the grants help teach community members about health and nutrition through gardening and nutrition classes.
“I think we did one class a year last year,” Cochran said. “This year has yet to be determined, we haven’t even planted yet. But that’s what we do with that grant. We’re then able to use some of that food here in the store. The main purpose of it is to teach kids about eating healthy and growing food, which we do right here on our patio at the Market Grille.”
Cochran said the grants will also allow Hy-Vee to develop partnerships with other area gardens.
“We want to help everywhere,” said Cochran. “We want to be everywhere in town and we want to do as much as we possibly can. We’ve spread it out and it’s something that we hope to continue to grow in the years to come.”
Hy-Vee has now awarded nearly 600 garden grants across the country since 2013. Applications and information on how to apply can be found on Hy-Vee’s official website.
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
