Viking Bank, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, has announced that the Ashby High School Greenhouse Project will receive a $7,500 grant from the Member Impact Fund along with a $2,500 donation from Viking Bank. This matching grant program will result in FHLB Des Moines awarding $20 million in funding to support affordable housing and community development in Minnesota.
"The Ashby Greenhouse Project is more than just a building — it's a living classroom, a community resource, and a symbol of what's possible when education and service come together," Bonita Oestreich, Ag/CTE instructor and FFA advisor, said in a press release.
Ashby and West Central Area Schools currently donate over 2,500 pounds of food annually; with the greenhouse, that number could exceed 10,000 pounds by 2030.
The project builds on existing partnerships with West Central Area Schools and local businesses. Their goal is to raise $150,000 to be eligible for a matching grant from the Lions International Hunger Grant program.
Read more at Echo Press