Tennessee farmers can win donations for local nonprofits

MEDON, Tenn. — Tennessee farmers are not only growing food that ends up on your table. Their harvests also support local nonprofits as they vie for grant money.

The America’s Farmers Grow Communities program wants to help farmers donate money to nonprofit organizations in their community.

“I applied for it thinking we might get it, we might not. So sure enough I was selected,” Dr. Bob Hayes said. Hayes is a farmer and the director of the West Tennessee Research and Education Center. “Then got a call about what nonprofit you want this to go to.”

Hayes chose to give his $2,500 donation to the Hope Recovery Center, which helps women battle addiction.

“I just hope that the contribution helps make a difference in somebody’s life out there,” Hayes said.

“We’re so grateful for Dr. Hayes in his part of this and his humility and kindness,” said Mary Kay Havranek with the Hope Recovery Center.

The money is funded by the Monsanto Fund, which is a charitable arm of the agriculture-driven company, Monsanto, who hopes this program will strengthen our communities.

“We built a fence, we used the money for that. And we built a keyhole garden inside,” Havranek said.

The Hope Recovery Center is mostly volunteer based with only eight people on staff and over 30 volunteers.

“It teaches the women responsibility and we use it, garden parables from the Bible,” Havranek said.

The goal of the program is to give away more than $3 million next year. All they need are farmers to apply.

Farmers have until Nov. 30 to apply for donations to be granted next year. To apply, visit www.GrowCommunities.com.