This Spring, Walnut Neighbors wrote 6 microgrants that were used to strengthen our neighborhood.

1. Marisa wrote a grant to buy Mothers Day cards and $15 HyVee gift cards for moms of young people in the Walnut Neighborhood. Moms felt seen and appreciated by this act of kindness, and Marisa mentioned that she met and learned the names of new neighbors through this effort.

2. Karen wrote a microgrant that would fund the printing and mailing of two large postcards to neighbors. The postcards announced upcoming neighborhood events and informed neighbors of community resources available to them.

3. Estee wrote a grant application for funds that would purchase a neighborhood banner and would gather neighbors together to walk in the My Waterloo Days Parade in June.

4. Stacy wrote a grant application that funded purchases of mulch and perennial plants for designated corner landscaping. Some of the grant was also used to pay for donuts for Boys and Girls Club students as they toured Rockets Bakery and learned about bakery careers.

5. Laura and the Youth Leadership Team wrote a grant that ended up being used in partnership with First Presbyterian Church as they hosted an Easter Egg Hunt in April. Members of the YLT served alongside the church’s mission team to stuff plastic eggs with candy and host the egg hunt for neighborhood children.

6. Laura wrote for funds for the annual Miracle of Marigolds. Neighbors plant marigolds each May that beautify Walnut Neighborhood corners and instill pride as well as engage neighbors in the planting and care of corners throughout the neighborhood.

Microgrants offer neighbors an opportunity to get creative, to serve in their passion areas, and to connect neighbors and celebrate our neighborhood. Thanks to neighbors and to this cycle of microgrants that were made possible by our partner, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity!