Money to go toward maintenance

Austin’s Hy-Vee One Step Garden received a $1,000 grant to support supplies and maintenance this summer.

Hy-Vee Inc. awarded 164 One Step Garden Grants for $1,000 each to community organizations and Hy-Vee stores this spring as part of the Hy-Vee One Step program.

The $1,000 will be used to purchase seeds, plants, garden tools and food preservation equipment for community gardens. One Step Garden Grants are given to community gardens that teach those in need about health and nutrition through the process of planting, tending and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables.

Austin’s Hy-Vee One Step Garden will focus on children from the YMCA of Austin and Kids Korner.

Dietitian Courtney Kremer is excited for this summer’s program, already starting to plan for her first year of the garden.

“I’m starting to think about the plans and what we’re going to plant in the garden this year, all the lesson plans with the kids, and what recipes we’re going to make,” she said.

“It’s my first year as the dietitian here and having a garden,” she added. “I’m just looking forward to all the challenges this is going to present.”

She is excited to help the children find new, healthy foods they enjoy and watch them experience growing their own food in a garden.

“The $1,000 dollars will be spent for supplies for the garden,” she said. “So anything from seeds to any garden tools we need … as well as the maintenance of the garden, watering the garden, making sure our soil is fertile.”

Hy-Vee’s One Step program uses a portion of the proceeds from the sale of earth-friendly, everyday products to benefit local and worldwide charitable causes. The products include a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes, shredded wheat cereal, paper towels and bottled water. Sales of One Step Russet Potatoes fund the One Step Garden Grants; for each bag a customer purchases, 5 cents goes toward funding the community garden grants.

“At Hy-Vee, we enjoy giving back to our communities,” Brad Waller, assistant vice president of community relations at Hy-Vee, said in a press release. “Health and wellness is a major emphasis of our business, which is why we are committed to being a strong community partner and working with our customers to improve the lives of those in need. What better way to do that than with our One Step Garden Grants.”

Community groups or organizations can apply for the grants each year on Hy-Vee’s website. The applications are judged based on demonstrated participation of community stakeholders; consideration of challenges that come with maintaining a community garden; the integration of the garden into the community; and intended use of the garden’s produce.

Austin’s One Step Garden will begin June 14 and go through Aug. 17. The program will end with a cooking competition from items in the garden, and Kremer hopes to have area celebrities judge the competition.

Kremer thanked everyone for their support.

“Thanks for all the people that have supported it over the years,” Kremer said.