Native plant wild indigo benefits all the other things that grow around it by attracting beneficial insects and fixing the soil’s nitrogen. So it made perfect sense for Pastor John Creasy and the Rev. Evan Clendenin to give that name to their new initiative combating food insecurity.
The two co-founders of the Garfield Community Farm received a United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Community Food Solutions $5,000 grant last year as they started their Wild Indigo Guild. They worked with four churches and groups of children and adults from each one to begin.
That funding came in part through a $50,000 grant from Bayer Fund, which has supported the Community Food Solutions initiative for three years. The initiative unites local thought leaders and key stakeholders in the areas of healthy food and food security to collaborate in creating equitable access to healthy, affordable food, according to a news release. The program supports United Way’s efforts to help families across the region meet their basic needs, and since its inception, 51 community-led projects have been funded. In 2024, the initiative awarded $148,000 to 32 grantees…