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For over 36 years, Wasatch Community Gardens’ (WCG) mission and programs have been rooted in food access and social justice. The urgency for this work has never been greater, reinforcing the value and vision of our Advocacy and Justice Program. With recent uncertainty surrounding federal nutrition benefits like SNAP and the heightened demand for feeding families in need as the holidays approach, the outpouring of community-led support is inspiring, and most notably it is essential.

Looking forward to year four of our capacity-building Five-Year Growth Plan, WCG remains dedicated to understanding and supporting the needs of our community. Our Advocacy and Justice Program, formalized through the Five-Year Growth Plan, exists to increase equitable access to healthy, organic, local food, advancing our commitment to a more just, inclusive food system. Within Advocacy and Justice, bilingual, multi-generational programs—Families as Teachers and Sabores de mi Patria—are sharing food-centric cultural heritage knowledge through supportive and direct services. With your support, WCG will continue intentionally adapting our programs to be an essential partner in this work.

“It always seems that once you get help and you start flourishing, you want to go out and help your community.” Carrie Allred, a Job Training Program alumna shared about her experience in our Growing CommUNITY, Sowing AgriCULTURE film. "Vegetable[s] that come off the farm...[are] donated....given to people who normally wouldn't be eating fresh veg." Carrie knows first hand what it looks like to share healthy food and show up for each other through WCG’s programs:

• Growing seedlings that are offered at a discount to SNAP beneficiaries and households in need;
• Sharing access to nutritious food through WCG’s social services partnerships, youth programs, school and other community partnerships;
• Expanding knowledge about growing and eating local food through educational programming, mentorship and relationship building, and our upcoming Farm Incubator Program;
• Understanding and improving access to sites and resources for people with different mobility needs, languages, and cultural backgrounds.

Your donation brings WCG’s programs like Advocacy and Justice to life, empowering WCG to:

• Provide dedicated support for our teams as they work to incorporate greater accessibility, inclusion, and equity in our program offerings;
• Act as a bridge between WCG and other groups, individuals, and organizations who share our values and commitment to community but may not be familiar with WCG yet;
• Inform and shape WCG’s external advocacy on behalf of our partners, participants, and community members.

Please visit wasatchgardens.org/donate today to grow commUNITY and sow agriCULTURE with a donation today. Your support allows us to make strategic investments to ensure our impact is lasting. Let’s grow a legacy of inclusivity this holiday season!

With gratitude and dedication,

Katie Dwyer
Executive Director

P.S. As we gather and share meals in coming days and weeks, we celebrate joyful, life-changing connections to healthy food and to each other. WCG is strengthening partnerships, listening, and pooling resources to ensure that existing community programs and services reach those who need them most. Your donation between now and Giving Tuesday on December 2 enables us to address barriers to healthy food access. YOU are the essential ingredient that fuels our recipe for impact!