On Thursday, March 9th, we were delighted to welcome some representatives from the USDA, who provide funding to our program through a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Education grant. Since 2012, our USDA partners have worked with us to promote access to good food through farmers market EBT programming, communal cooking education activities during workdays at Ho'oulu 'Aina Nature Park, gardening and nutrition workshops for leaders from local agencies such as elementary schools, and hands-on gardening education to increase our neighbors' capacity to grow their own, nutritious foods.
During their visit, our guests were able to join in on a Growing Farmers workday at Ho'oulu 'Aina, learning about organic gardening practices and meeting some of the participants that benefit from the program that our SNAP grant supports. We're so thankful to have the kind of funders who contribute not just their dollars, but are also willing to give their labor and energy, getting their hands dirty in our Kalihi soil and planting seeds that will help nourish those who come after them.
Thank you for many years of partnership, USDA!