Ascentra CU Donation Helps Refugees
BETTENDORF, Iowa – A local organization helping refugees will be able to offer additional assistance thanks to an $18,500 donation from Ascentra Credit Union.
“Ascentra’s investment in the work of Tapestry Farms is a testament to their commitment to making the Quad Cities a place where everyone, regardless of where they’re from, has the opportunity to thrive,” Leslie Klipsch, community engagement manager of Tapestry Farms., said in a statement. “It means stability for families, fresh food on tables across the QCA and a stronger community for all of us.”
Tapestry Farms helps local refugees with housing, education, work, transportation and citizenship. The nonprofit organization creates jobs, using an urban farm system, using 10 plots of land throughout the Quad Cities helping refugees to become farm specialists, the credit union said.
“They use regenerative farming techniques to grow fresh produce, which helps feed families resettled in the area,” the CU said. “Extra produce and flowers are donated to local food pantries and the rest is sold at a farmers’ market or through a subscription service.”
“With the rising costs of groceries and uncertainty about the costs of other everyday expenses for families, there is alignment between making smart money decisions and the work they do, helping people grow and eat their own food, thus promoting health and financial wellness,” Ascentra CU Linda Andry said in a statement.
Grant Funding
The donation comes from grant funding that Ascentra previously secured for a revolving loan fund with the Esperanza Legal Assistance Center. The partnership offered low-interest loans to immigrants needing assistance to pay legal fees for their citizenship, but with Esperanza ceasing operations at the end of 2024, both entities decided to donate remaining funds to Tapestry Farms.
“Right away we knew they were the perfect organization to gift these funds,” said Andry. “Their mission utilizes the skills that individuals from other countries or different lived experiences have to offer while helping to feed families.”
Approximately 500 refugees have been helped by Tapestry Farms since Executive Director Ann McGlynn started the organization in 2017.
“The idea came from a deep awareness of the challenges refugees face when they arrive in the Quad Cities, especially the need for long-term support beyond the initial resettlement period,” said Klipsch. “Ann saw the power of urban farming as a way to nurture good health, but also create community, provide economic opportunity and offer stability and healing for refugee families working to rebuild their lives.”
The donation from Ascentra is expected to help continue that support and assist in expanding services.