The Urbandale Food Pantry began installation and planting of its new community garden today in collaboration with local Master Gardeners. The garden will grow fresh produce for families accessing pantry services. Volunteers and community partners installed raised garden beds, placed more than 15 tons of soil, and planted the first crops for the growing season….

The Big Grove For Good Foundation announced that its Neighborhood Micro-Grant Program has distributed more than $36,000 to 68 individuals and organizations within the year, funded by sales of Big Grove Brewery’s “Neighborhood Beer.” The program provides grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to support initiatives that benefit communities where the brewery operates. Funded projects…

The Des Moines Children’s Museum announced that the Ruan Family Foundation has committed $500,000 to its “From Love to Legacy” capital campaign, supporting the development of a new facility in West Des Moines. Ruan Transportation Management Systems is also partnering with the museum to create an interactive transportation exhibit featuring a semi-truck cab in collaboration…

The Great Outdoors Foundation has announced the launch of Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator, a pitch competition designed to advance innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Convergence is part of the Athene Watershed26 conference, taking place June 30–July 1. Convergence aims to bring together entrepreneurs, farmers and industry leaders to identify and…

By Degrees Foundation has launched its Moving the Needle on Student Success campaign, a $5 million initiative to expand its kindergarten-to-career program by 2030 to every school in the Des Moines district’s north feeder pattern. The campaign will scale a coordinated system of support that helps students succeed academically, plan for life after high school,…

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has asked a federal agency to allow a likely-to-be abandoned Des Moines-area rail line to be converted to a multi-use recreation trail. In a letter dated April 27, foundation president Joe McGovern asked the Surface Transportation Board to take the necessary steps to allow public use of the 12.2-mile stretch…