Hy-Vee Donates To Help Community Gardens Grow

Oskaloosa Hy-Vee Store Director Clete Hjorth (center) presented New Hope Director Blaine Vos (right) with a $1000 Hy-Vee One STEP grant.

The $1000 grant is part of the One STEP program started by Hy-Vee, which features select items within the store. Specific items have a portion of their proceeds go to the charity associated with that product.

New Hope community gardens was the recipient of the One STEP grant from Hy-Vee and Oskaloosa Store Director Clete Hjorth, who presented Blaine Vos with the check this past week.

The money that funded the grant to New Hope came from the sale of five-pound bags of One STEP potatoes, not only in Oskaloosa but throughout the company.

Other One STEP programs include the sale of One STEP paper towels that helps to support tree planting, with those efforts being seen in the Council Bluffs area. Trees are being planted to offset those lost during recent historic flooding.

One STEP water sales are being used to help fund well digging operations in Africa, while One STEP cereal sales help fund Meals From The Heartland.

Hjorth said, “I think it’s a great program where our customers can make a choice in choosing to buy some of these particular products, where a portion of the proceeds go back into the communities in which we operate and all around the world as well.”

Vos said that Hy-Vee has donated over $5,000.00 over the years to New Hope to help make the community gardens possible.

Vos thanked Hy-Vee for making the grant available, “We’re always glad to get a real boost on our garden.”