KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City Community Gardens has been serving the metro since 1979, officially 501c3 in 1985. The nonprofit helps out thousands of families every year, but like so many other nonprofits across the country, their federal funding is on pause.

KCCG Executive Director Jennifer Meyer said the nonprofit already budgeted for $300,000 of federal grant money to be reimbursed throughout the year. After the most recent federal cuts, that money isn’t showing up.

“We’re having to be really conservative on how we approach the spring season,” Meyer said. “Those grants operate on a reimbursement basis, so we do the work, buy the seeds, buy the fruit trees, and then submit billing on those grants. We have not seen a reimbursement come through since December of last year, so right now, that’s all on hold and uncertain.”

Meyer said the garden won’t have to shut down, there are enough donors to keep the garden running during the spring season. However, KCCG is still feeling the impacts by having to trim seasonal staff. If federal grant money doesn’t show up at all, Meyer said the nonprofit will have to make some tough decisions.

“Last year, food insecurity rates quietly crept back up to pandemic levels, so our community needs food,” Meyer said. “We know that gardening is a great way to get healthy food into neighborhoods and families who are on a tight budget, so this funding lets us do that.”

Meyer expects the spring season to run as normal, just with fewer staff. KCCG offers an annual membership program with fees based on income and the number of people in a household. Membership ranges from $2 to $45.

According to the KCCG reader’s digest, enrollment includes:

• 10 free packs of seeds and the opportunity to buy more at a low-cost member price
• Free 10-pound bag of fertilizer
• Starter plants, including vegetables and herb transplants, fruit trees, berry bushes and more at a low-cost member price
• Low-cost garden supplies, such as straw, compost and pest control products
• Low-cost tilling services and access to KCCG rental plot gardens

You can learn more about Kansas City Community Gardens’ outreach and resources here.

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