Urbandale Food Pantry Launches First Collaborative Community Garden to Boost Fresh Food Access
The Urbandale Food Pantry has officially broken ground on a new community garden, marking a strategic shift toward sustainable, local food production for families in need. Developed in collaboration with local Master Gardeners, the project aims to integrate fresh produce directly into the pantry’s support services, reducing reliance on external supply chains and increasing the nutritional quality of available food.
A New Model for Local Food Security
The installation and planting phase began on May 8, 2026, with a significant mobilization of volunteers and community partners. The physical infrastructure of the garden is designed for high yield and accessibility, featuring the installation of raised garden beds and the placement of more than 15 tons of soil to ensure optimal growing conditions for the season’s first crops.
This initiative represents a milestone for the region, serving as the first collaborative community garden established between Master Gardeners and a local food pantry. By pairing horticultural expertise with direct food distribution, the project creates a streamlined pipeline from seed to table.
Driving Impact Through “Dignity-Centered” Support
The garden is not merely a source of calories, but a component of a larger strategy to improve how food assistance is delivered. The project emphasizes education and community connection alongside food access.
“In 2025 alone, local gardeners donated more than 16,000 pounds of homegrown produce to the pantry,” stated Patty Sneddon-Kisting, CEO of the Urbandale Food Pantry. “This garden is another step toward increasing access to fresh food while also creating opportunities for community connection, learning and dignity-centered food support.”
By focusing on “dignity-centered” support, the pantry aims to empower families through access to high-quality, fresh ingredients that are often missing from traditional food pantry inventories.
Strategic Community Partnerships
The scale of the project was made possible through a network of public and private partnerships. The garden project is supported by the city of Urbandale, alongside contributions from local businesses, including:
- Anderson Properties
- Iowa Outdoor Products
These partnerships highlight a growing trend in corporate social responsibility where local businesses provide the resources and materials necessary to build permanent community assets.
Key Takeaways: The Urbandale Garden Project
- First-of-its-Kind: This is the first collaboration of its type between Master Gardeners and a local food pantry in the area.
- Significant Scale: The initial setup involved moving over 15 tons of soil and installing multiple raised beds.
- Proven Demand: The project builds on a strong foundation of community giving, with over 16,000 pounds of produce donated by local gardeners in 2025.
- Holistic Goal: The initiative focuses on nutrition, education and dignity-centered support rather than just food distribution.
Looking Ahead
As the first crops of the season begin to grow, the Urbandale Food Pantry’s community garden serves as a scalable blueprint for other municipalities. By leveraging the expertise of Master Gardeners and the resources of local businesses, the pantry is transitioning from a distribution center to a producer of fresh, nutritious food, ensuring a more resilient food system for the community.
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