1-3 p.m. Thursday, February 27
Join us at Ewalu’s Creation Center and learn about Growing Hope Globally, a nonprofit organization that connects Christian organizations and rural communities to respond to food scarcity in developing countries. Mark Swanson, a regional director for Growing Hope Globally, will give a presentation from 1 to 3 p.m. along with area farmers from Seeds for Hope of Northeast Iowa. Swanson will speak about how the organization has served over 2.3 million people and helped them to grow lasting solutions to hunger. The event is free and open to the public; afternoon refreshments will be served.
Founded in 1999 as Foods Resource Bank, Growing Hope Globally started in Ohio when a farming couple sought to fight world hunger by shipping corn from their fields to developing countries. They quickly learned shipping was too costly – nearly 15 times the cost of the grain itself – and would wreak havoc on local farmers and markets. They sat down with a handful of Christian organizations that fund and run international food security programs. Their unique solution: Use the proceeds from crops raised and sold in the U.S. to fund agricultural development programs overseas. The organization now works across the U.S. to link rural communities in helping developing countries grow lasting solutions to hunger.
The whole community has the opportunity to get involved through Growing Projects. Farmers till the land or raise the animals while businesses, churches and individuals cover the input and land costs so that, when sold, the entire profit can be used to support the Growing Hope program(s) of their choice. With each one doing their part, the impact is multiplied beyond what any individual could do on their own. Growing Projects typically generate 4-5x the value of initial donations.
Ewalu has had a long history of relationship with Growing Hope Globally, providing about 11 acres of land for a local Growing Project that is raising money to help farmers in the developing world. The acres used to grow crops for the project are along the south border of Ewalu’s main site, just west of Strawberry Point. Local farmers plant and harvest the acres, and agribusiness supporters also help by extending favorable prices or by donating seed and fertilizer. Instead of shipping the harvested crop to hungry people, which is costly, the crop’s proceeds are donated to Growing Hope Globally to purchase grain, seeds, tools, and other resources near the area affected by hunger. Growing Hope Globally strives to supply the knowledge and materials people need to start feeding themselves.
TO REGISTER: Click the button below, log in (or create an account), then go to “2025 Ewalu Events” to find “Growing Hope Globally – Enrichment Series.”
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Mark Swanson is a regional director for Growing Hope Globally, which provides an opportunity for Christians to make a lasting impact on global hunger. The nonprofit links the grassroots energy and commitment of rural communities in the U.S. with the capability and desire of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Previously, Mark was a pastor serving churches in South Dakota and most recently Washington state, where he led a Growing Project with Growing Hope Globally. Mark and his family live in Decorah, Iowa.
He serves Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the West Coast, bringing together farmers, agribusinesses, churches, civic groups and others with the common cause of helping hungry people.
ABOUT SEEDS FOR HOPE IN NORTHEAST IOWA: The “Seeds of Hope” growing project was started in 2004 after Ewalu Executive Director Dale Goodman attended a Rural Ministry workshop. Dale gathered several area farmers and other interested people to consider donating the use of 11 tillable acres of land at the south end of Camp Ewalu’s main site. By planting time that year, seed, fertilizer, diesel power and labor were secured to establish the first crop of corn. Each week camper groups would hike to the field to hear the story of how this crop would be harvested and marketed. Ewalu campers participated directly by sacrificing a treat or two at the canteen and contributing that money to the growing project instead.
Yearly crop proceeds and cash contributions are sent to Growing Hope Globally (GHG), a consortium of faith-based organizations (like Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Relief Services, Methodist Committee on Relief, and approximately 15 other organizations) which already have “boots on the ground” with projects in many developing countries. GHG acts as a clearinghouse to fund projects supported by these organizations. Most of the projects involve helping farmers (many women) to make water more accessible, obtain title to land they have been farming for years, learn to grow a variety of crops instead of just one and to grow some crops in plastic greenhouses. Some projects involve the establishment of a community “bank” in which extra cash earned by farmers can be deposited and loaned to others who wish to join the project. There are no food handouts; no grain or other goods are shipped. Funding goes directly to projects that help farmers become self-sufficient.
Over the past several years, “Seeds of Hope” (now named “Seeds For Hope” for incorporation purposes) has partnered with the following churches: St. Sebald Lutheran, St. Mary Catholic, United Methodist and Mission in Christ in Strawberry Point; First Lutheran, St. Mary Catholic and Our Savior’s Lutheran in Manchester; St. Patrick’s Catholic and Peace Lutheran in Ryan.
