The Family Garden Initiative Who we are The Family Garden Initiative is Light shown in local communities by the actions of Christ-like servants living out the Gospel. Through the training and equipping local churches and social organizations, FGI and its partners empower children, adults and families to improve their nutrition through gardening in their own backyards.

Why FGI? Hungry for Food 50.1 million regularly go without food. (This is up from 35 million in 2006) 1 in 5 children are at risk for hunger. Source: feedingamerica.org Urban Food Scarcity (Food Deserts) exists in EVERY major city in the US Solutions such as Community Gardens only meet the needs of a few Food banks feed the immediate hunger, and often processed foods

What makes the FGI different? A 3 Part Mission - Gospel - Nutrition - Education Serving 3 Pillars - Urban Communities - Veteran Programs - Globally among Children

What makes the FGI different? FGI provides the tools and training required to help anyone grow gardens anywhere. We teach how to fish - empowerment. We train the trainer.

The Project The Project - setup

The Project The Project - delivery

The Project The Project - planted

The Results The Project – all year

What’s on the Dollar Menu? The Impact What’s on the Dollar Menu? On Fast Food Menu In The Produce Aisle

The Impact What’s on the Dollar Menu? From the Garden with an FGI Donation FGI has enabled families to grow 324,000 salads like this in 4 years!

The Immeasurable Impact Thank you, thank you thank you. We have just experienced the worst week of our lives and this morning three people arrived from Church of the Open Door and blessed us with a garden! Words fail me, I am so grateful for His provision. - Recipient 2013 (facebook) ME N MY FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR OUR GARDEN IT'S GOING TO BE FUN TRYING TO GROW ONE AS A FAMILY? GOD BLESS - Recipient 2013 (facebook) A HUGE thanks to Life Point Church for bringing a garden to us this year! We cannot tell you how blessed we feel to have this program in our lives :) - Recipient 2013 (facebook) It feels really good when you help other people. Thanks for blessing us with helping you serve! - Volunteer 2013

Milestones to Date FGI is already Growing! 2,000+ gardens across Lorain County over 4 years 700+ gardens in Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, and Toledo in 2 years. 12 Projects across the nation in 2013 Project planned in Uganda, El Salvador, and Honduras in 2014 9,500 Individuals Empowered with the potential to grow 162,000 lbs of produce!

Getting Involved We love collaboration to meet mutual goals! Tell someone who might benefit either as a recipient or partner. Volunteer with one of our projects across the country Connect us to Recipients. The need is great! Help the projects move. $50 builds a family a garden for 2 years. Or…help us with something we haven’t thought of!

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. --Isaiah 58:10-11