The grant also will help fund the purchase of much-needed equipment and supplies for the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm, the nation’s first hydroponic operation associated with a Meals on Wheels location.
“We’re honored to receive this generous gift and grateful that Prairie Meadows is continuing to support these efforts in such an impactful and meaningful way,” Sophia S. Ahmad, pictured, vice president of philanthropy for WesleyLife, said. “Developing the new Meals on Wheels campus has allowed us to begin to work toward tripling meal capacity, and to offer programming to combat isolation in older adults and military veterans of all ages. The grant makes a tremendous difference in our ability to serve these deserving populations.”
In assisting with purchases for the farm, the grant is providing essential tools to enhance the nutritional value of the thousands of meals that are prepared daily on the new campus, located at 3206 University Avenue in Des Moines. The farm’s existence was made possible in large part by a 2022 Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant.
The initiative to develop the new campus was empowered by an $11 million campaign led by a gift of $1.05 million from Des Moines philanthropist Suzie Glazer Burt in cooperation with Drake University. The campus replaced Meals on Wheels’ previous operation near downtown Des Moines, a smaller, aging building unable to meet the needs of a growing population affected by food insecurity.
The produce grown on the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm also is offered to the Greater Des Moines community; in addition, it is used in the creation of meals served at Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen, restaurateur Lynn Pritchard’s stand-alone restaurant on the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus.
“We are honored to be included with the other landmark initiatives and ongoing programs that Prairie Meadows supports in Central Iowa,” Ahmad said. “That inclusion speaks to Prairie Meadows’ generosity and recognition of WesleyLife’s proven track record to serve and impact our community.
“We look forward to a long partnership with Prairie Meadows that will benefit residents of Des Moines and surrounding communities for generations to come.”