Motherland Gardens Community Project

Motherland list will be a long one..

Nominations are OPEN for the 2027 Good as Gold Awards!

Join us on April 19th, 2027, as we celebrate the amazing volunteers and organizations making a difference in our community.

ALL Springfield-area nonprofits are encouraged to nominate! Any local non-profit is encouraged to recognize the people who make your work possible.

Nomination Deadline: February 5th, 2027

Know someone who deserves recognition? Nominate them today! https://www.uis.edu/volunteer/good-gold

And a special shout out to UWCIL's 2026 Good as Gold Award Winners- Shauna Hayes, Stella Lopp, Shaun Brady, and Penny McCarty ❤️💛💙

We were honored to welcome Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski to Motherland Community Project and grateful for the opportunity to share both the impact of our work and the challenges we face. Her visit provided an important opportunity to witness firsthand how community-driven solutions are addressing food insecurity, expanding access to healthy food, and creating a more sustainable future through urban agriculture.

Motherland Community Project is engaged in the kind of work that transforms and revitalizes communities by connecting people to fresh food, educational opportunities, and critical resources. Through our collaborations with Sangamon County and the University of Illinois Extension, we are strengthening local food systems, expanding community education, and creating pathways toward greater food security and resilience for the communities we serve.

USDA and NIFA programs, such as the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant program, are critical in helping organizations and farmers innovate, grow, and strengthen sustainable food systems. These investments make it possible for community-based organizations like ours to develop solutions that have a lasting impact.

We deeply appreciate Congresswoman Budzinski's commitment to understanding the realities faced by organizations like ours. Her advocacy for ending the repeated delays and cancellations in the grant award process demonstrates her dedication to ensuring that farmers, educators, researchers, and community organizations have the certainty and resources needed to plan, invest, and serve effectively.

Her visit meant a great deal to us. It reflects the importance of listening to communities on the ground, understanding the challenges we face, and working together to advance meaningful solutions. We thank Congresswoman Budzinski for taking the time to visit Motherland and for being a strong voice for the organizations and individuals working every day to build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Illinois.







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We were thrilled to welcome our longtime friend, volunteer and supporter Jenny McCann to our site for a fantastic cooking class! Participants enjoyed a hands-on experience learning new techniques, preparing delicious recipes, and building confidence in the kitchen.
Using produce grown directly from the garden, Jenny prepared an exceptional meal that beautifully blended local and international culinary traditions.
Her effort demonstrated that cooking delicious meals from scratch is both attainable and rewarding.
Thank you, Jenny, for sharing your expertise, enthusiasm, and passion for cooking with our community.
Opportunities like these not only teach valuable skills but also bring people together in a fun and engaging way.
We appreciate the time and energy you invested in making the class such a success!





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Community organizations thrive because of people who choose to give their time and talents in service of others. As a volunteer-based organization, days like this remind us how powerful that commitment can be.
A heartfelt thank you to the students, faculty, and organizers from the SIU School of Medicine for spending their October 24th Day of Service with us at Motherland from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Their willingness to volunteer not only provided valuable support to our projects but also helped strengthen the connection between future healthcare professionals and the community they will soon serve.
Beyond the work completed, this experience offered students an opportunity to engage with local residents, learn about community needs, and better understand the people and neighborhoods that will be at the heart of their future medical careers.
For us, their presence was a meaningful reminder of the importance of volunteerism. As an organization built on the dedication of volunteers, every helping hand contributes to creating stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
We are grateful for the energy, compassion, and service-minded spirit the students brought to Motherland.
To everyone who helped make this Day of Service possible, thank you. We deeply appreciate your commitment to community engagement and your investment in the next generation of healthcare leaders. Your support made a difference, and we are honored to have partnered with you.


&CommunityEngagement

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We were honored to welcome the United Way of Central Illinois Board members to our site and share the impact of our Community Resilience work. Their visit was more than an opportunity to showcase our programs. It was a powerful reminder of the value of strong partnerships and a testament to the care, commitment, and confidence they have in our mission.
Through their support, we are able to strengthen our efforts to build community resilience, expand opportunities, and help individuals and families navigate challenges while creating pathways to long-term stability and success.
Their investment in our work is making a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for the trust they place in our organization.
Having the Board take the time to visit, listen, learn, and engage with our team meant a great deal to us. Their presence demonstrated a genuine interest in the people we serve and the impact we are working together to achieve.
Partnerships like this are essential to creating stronger, more resilient communities, and we are proud to work alongside an organization that shares our vision and commitment.
Thank you, United Way of Central Illinois, for your continued support, partnership, and belief in the importance of this work. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.



Way of Central Illinois
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