Grace Grows

In collaboration with community, Grace Grows builds and leverages food systems and land based initiatives to empower, increase capacity, and improve justice for people experiencing social inequities.

The Grace Grows Garden is a community initiative that has grown from humble roots on the Grace Marketplace homeless shelter campus. It was started by people who have been directly impacted by food insecurity and homelessness, making it a true community effort. The first program, launched in 2015, promotes mental and physical well-being through gardening, providing fresh produce for the GRACE Marketplace Café 131. In 2019, it became a separate nonprofit, further solidifying its community-driven nature and increasing its impact.

Expanding its horizons, Grace Grows spearheaded the Southeast Gainesville Community Food Project. This influential project, which championed food justice and accessibility, has left an indelible mark on the community, bringing a wealth of resources to an area previously labeled a food desert. Centering the voices of affected residents and advocating for systemic change has transcended traditional food distribution boundaries, instilling a sense of pride and connection in the
community.

Grace Grows has recently embarked on the ambitious task of helping with designing a food hub in Alachua County. Local food systems advocates have recognized the need for this project for years. The Fresh Food Pathways project aims to bring this vision to life, leveraging the organization's community trust and expertise in engagement. Simultaneously, Grace Grows has revived the Food System Coalition of North Central Florida, transforming it into a group that can foster collective capacity in a food system resource-limited environment and respond to the challenges of our times.