Welcome to The Giving Grove!
The Giving Grove’s mission is to provide healthy calories, strengthen community, and improve the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards.
Little Orchards.
The Giving Grove program supports neighborhood volunteers in planting and caring for fruit trees, nut trees and berry brambles that improve the urban environment, increase tree canopy and provide a sustainable source of free, healthy food for neighborhoods facing high rates of food insecurity.
Big Impact.
The Giving Grove network has more than 400 orchards across the U.S. with the potential to grow nearly 3 million servings of free, fresh food annually while re-invigorating urban green spaces from coast to coast.
Power in Numbers.
Our South Bend, IN partner joins The Giving Grove’s extensive network of urban agriculture organizations hosting community orcharding program. From Atlanta to Seattle, Giving Grove orchards are making a BIG IMPACT on food sovereignty and equitable greenspace in over 400 communities.
Meet our South Bend, Indiana Partners: Unity Gardens
The mission of Unity Gardens is to connect the South Bend community to fresh produce, nature, and one another. For the last 14 years, their vision has been to grow an abundance of food because abundance sprouts sharing.
Unity Gardens offers 30+ open pick gardens, classes on growing and preparing food, and children’s programming. These services, available at no charge, enhance public health by amending food insecurity, creating access to healthy foods that improve wellness and boost immunity, and help combat depression and anxiety through inclusive, welcoming and nurturing green spaces. All are welcome in their free-food gardens, classes and summer wellness programs, regardless of socio-economic status. Unity Gardens’ uniquely dignified free food model creates wellness solutions that help destigmatize free food while creating welcoming greenspaces where diverse people can gather.
The Average 14-Tree Orchard Impact
158 K Gallons
Lifetime Soil/Water Retention
8,700+ Servings
Produced Annually
13 Tons
Lifetime Carbon Sequestered
Growing
Sense of Community
Program Funding
The McDonnell Foundation will match all donations (up to $100,000) for the program launch.
Full funding of $200,000 will support 20 community orchards in South Bend from design and installation through Year 3, when the trees are established and ready for harvest. The cost per orchard includes:
Help us reach our full match and fund the Unity Garden’s orcharding program! Here’s how:
Donate Online
Giving Grove orchards are on pace to provide more than 80 million servings of free, healthy food for their neighborhoods. With your help, we can reach ONE BILLION servings nationwide. Use this form to donate now.
All gifts made to the South Bend project will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The McDonnell Foundation.
Donate by Mail
If you prefer to send a check by mail, make the check out to “The Giving Grove” and mail to:
The Giving Grove
300 E 39th St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
Donor Advised Funds & Gifts of Stock
We welcome gifts from Donor Advised Funds and Stocks. Please contact Erica Kratofil for more information about getting those funds to The Giving Grove.