Farm to Toddler Grants Awarded

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network has awarded 12 mini-grants of $250 each to certified DHS early childcare centers and group/family agencies located within the 9-county region of Northwest Tennessee through the Nourishing Connection Program. 

The goal of the Nourishing Connection program is to nourish the connections young children have with healthy consumption habits by providing hands-on agricultural and nutrition education experiences through 1) growing food projects, 2) nutrition and agriculture education, and 3) eating local foods in school meals. Projects will incorporate all 3 of these elements in their grant proposal.

The following 12 Early Childcare Centers were awarded a $250 Nourishing Connection grant:

Benton County: Adventure Academy at Joyland;  Carroll County: McKenzie Head Start/EHS, First Baptist Child Development Center; Dyer County: Safe Havens Learning Center; Gibson County: Little People's Daycare, Little People's Jumpstart, and Miss Flossie's Academy of Development; Weakley County:: Christian Wee Learn Center,  Aunt Tracey’s Daycare, Gingerbread Junction LLC, Meme’s Daycare Center, Cozy Cottage Daycare. 

“With recent cuts to USDA programs such as Local Foods for Local Schools and the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, we offered these new grants to help continue the vital work of supporting families and our early childcare partners who are nurturing our youngest eaters.” stated Caroline Ideus, NWTNLFN Co-Director. “This isn’t just about filling a gap,” said Ideus. “It’s about continuing a movement toward a local food system that is healthier, more resilient, and rooted in local economies.”

The grants were made available with a generous donation provided by Vital Farms. Each awardee received a $250 check with a grow kit including a variety of seeds to get the growing season started and share their seeds with families as part of this year’s #GrowFoodChallenge.

Learn more about this program at nwtnlfn.org/nourishing-connection.

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Martin, TN, whose mission is to serve as a catalyst for a thriving and equitable local food system that is accessible to ALL.