Farm to Toddler Grants Awarded
The Nourishing Connection Program, managed by the Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network, grant awardees received a $250 check with a watermelon-themed box filled with a variety of seeds.
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
Carroll County: First Baptist Child Development Center
Dyer County: Safe Havens Learning Center
Gibson County: Little People’s Daycare
Gibson County: Little People’s Jumpstart
Gibson County: Miss Flossie’s Academy of Development
Weakley County: Christian Wee Learn Center
Weakley County: Aunt Tracey’s Daycare
Weakley County: Gingerbread Junction LLC
Weakley County: Meme’s Daycare Center
Weakley County: 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.
Three Gibson County Early Childcare Centers, Little People’s Daycare, Little People’s Jumpstart, and Miss Flossie’s Academy of Development received a Nourishing Connection Grant for $250 each to support their Farm to Early Childcare activities.
Director Tracey Toney of Tracey’s Home Day Care out of Weakley County, TN, received a Nourishing Connection grant that will support her early childcare farm and growing projects.
McKenzie Head Start/EHS in Carroll County, TN, is ready to get STARTED growing food for their center and utilizing their new compost bin. They are the featured site for this year’s #GrowFoodChallenge COMPOST theme prize announcement. Join the #GrowFoodChallenge and win prizes at nwtnlfn.org/grow-food-challenge.
Karen Teem, Family Advocate, shows how she has started her seeds at McKenzie Head Start. They are also a seed distribution partner for this year’s #GrowFoodChallenge for community members to pick up free seeds.
Ginger Randolph, Director of Gingerbread Junction in Dresden, TN, has been growing food onsite at her childcare center since 2020.
Assistant Director – Monica Beal at Christian Wee Learn in Martin, TN, serves 192 children on a daily basis.
Adventure Academy at Joyland’s Director, Elaina Chandler, serves children living in Benton County, TN.
Annetta Williams, Director of Meme’s Daycare Center out of Martin, TN, is passionate about feeding young children healthy, fresh food.
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