2025–2026: Community
First Grant

The Community First Grant (CFG) supports nonprofits focused on long-term fresh, healthy food access and nutrition education that are engaged with Whole Foods Market Team Members.

Projects we fund include community gardens, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and more! Discover this year’s cohort of incredible organizations and their respective Team Member below.

Meet the 2025-2026 Community Partners and Team Members

Agricultural Institute of Marin

San Rafael, CA
Team Member: Geri Feldman

Website
Appetite for Change

Minneapolis, MN
Team Member: Heather Poliseno

Website
Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture

Alexandria, VA
Team Member: Venus Perez

Website
Arizona Urban Farm Foundation

Gilbert, AZ
Team Member: Souparnika Vivek

Website
Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community

Eatonville, FL
Team Member: Alexandria Hipple

Website
Backyard Growers

Gloucester, MA
Team Member: Jenna Cooney

Website
Berry Good Farms

Jacksonville, FL
Team Member: Nicole Caparas

Website
Berry Good Food Foundation

San Diego, CA
Team Member: Ryan Johnson

Website
Boston Food Forest Coalition

Boston, MA
Team Member: Nelson Hernandez

Website
Bronx Community Farm Hubs

Bronx, NY
Team Member: Belkys Lopez

Website
Bronx River Alliance

Bronx, NY
Team Member: Suet Lay Mijares

Website
Brooklyn Heights Community Garden

Nashville, TN
Team Member: Carrie McNallie

Website
By The Hand Club for Kids

Chicago, IL
Team Member: Naomy Erazo

Website
Chicago Lights

Chicago, IL
Team Member: Aren Castillo

Website
Chrysalis Center

Hartford, CT
Team Member: Diane Thompson

Website
Community FarmShare

Poolesville, MD
Team Member: Mayming Chan

Website
Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN
Team Member: Meg Gorman

Website
Cultivate Canada Society

Vancouver, BC
Team Member: Ramandeep R.

Website
Cultivate KC

Kansas City, MO
Team Member: Brenden Lake

Website
Cultivating Community

Portland, ME
Team Member: Keith Grover

Website
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation

Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Margot Sansone

Website
Fairgate Farm

Stamford, CT
Team Member: Ruby Schleifer

Website
FamilyCook Productions

New York, NY
Team Member: Michael Greene

Website
Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Providence, RI
Team Member: Emma Kirby

Website
FED Urban Agriculture Society

Victoria, BC
Team Member: Allyssa de Bruijn

Website
Food to Power

Colorado Springs, CO
Team Member: Kelly Cox

Website
FoodChain

Lexington, KY
Team Member: Christian Galtieri

Website
Franklin Food Pantry

Franklin, MA
Team Member: Matthew McCall

Website
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Columbus, OH
Team Member: Bethany Brakemeyer

Website
Franklinton Farms

Columbus, OH
Team Member: Ron McCann

Website
Free Haven Farms

Lawnside, NJ
Team Member: Kyrah Arthur

Website
Fresh Truck

Boston, MA
Team Member: Glendy Jolon

Website
Gardopia Gardens

San Antonio, TX
Team Member: Laura Bontempo

Website
Good Bag Ministry

Bronx, NY
Team Member: Steven Samuel

Website
Grace Grows

Gainesville, FL
Team Member: Amanda Black

Website
Groundwork Lawrence

Lawrence, MA
Team Member: Kathryn Findlen

Website
Growing Places Indy

Indianapolis, IN
Team Member: Sonja McCarrel

Website
Harmony Cafe

Patchogue, NY
Team Member: Edward Pivarsky

Website
Homegoing Farms

Asheville, NC
Team Member: Dan Hancock

Website
Isabahlia Ladies of Elegance Foundation

Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Saretta Mathias

Website
Just Roots Chicago

Chicago, IL
Team Member: Ann Coconate

Website
Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi

Kaneohe, HI
Team Member: Marie Denny

Website
Kansas City Black Urban Growers

Kansas City, MO
Team Member: Christopher Hyman

Website
Kitchen of Life

New Albany, OH
Team Member: Becky Crabtree

Website
Lloyd Porter Culinary Project

Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Jacob Lux

Website
Lopez Urban Farm

Claremont, CA
Team Member: Elizabeth Covarrubias

Website
Louisville Grows

Louisville, KY
Team Member: Constance Eger

Website
Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Grove City, OH
Team Member: Bethany Brakemeyer

Website
Mill Creek Urban Farm

Philadelphia, PA
Team Member: Ayesha McNeill

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New Hampshire Food Bank

Manchester, NH
Team Member: Joseph Desrosiers

Website
Newton Community Farm

Newton, MA
Team Member: Kate Blaski

Website
Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation

Arverne, NY
Team Member: Passion Brownlee

Website
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association

Worthington, OH
Team Member: Bethany Brakemeyer

Website
Out of the Garden Project

Greensboro, NC
Team Member: Manar Kattan

Website
Project EATS

New York, NY
Team Member: Margot Sansone

Website
Queens County Farm Museum

Floral Park, NY
Team Member: Denise Kick

Website
Quest Center for Integrative Health

Portland, OR
Team Member: Elaine Bettzig

Website
Regenerative Roots Association

Nashua, NH
Team Member: Tecumseh Allen

Website
Renewable Farms

Anaheim, CA
Team Member: Puxin Xuanyuan

Website
Restorative Farms

Dallas, TX
Team Member: Freddie Cavazos

Website
Rethink Food

New York, NY
Team Member: Passion Brownlee

Website
Rise Up Community Farm

Wilmington, NC
Team Member: Jordan Davidson

Website
Rosie's Community Garden

Brandon, MS
Team Member: Joanna Empel-Tarnowska

Website
Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society

Salt Spring Island, BC
Team Member: Louise Day

Website
Sanctuary Farm Phila

Philadelphia, PA
Team Member: Ayesha McNeill

Website
Sankofa Community Development Corporation

New Orleans, LA
Team Member: Nkenge Graham

Website
Seed House Project

Glendale, CA
Team Member: Tracie Constanza

Website
Seedleaf

Lexington, KY
Team Member: Eve Armstrong

Website
Spring Creek Food Hub

Springdale, AR
Team Member: Robert Herbert

Website
St. Joseph Center of Arkansas

North Little Rock, AR
Team Member: Tahra May

Website
Sustainable Food Center

Austin, TX
Team Member: Lee Robinson

Website
Tempe Community Action Agency

Tempe, AZ
Team Member: Maanasi Balakrishnan

Website
The Food Literacy Project

Louisville, KY
Team Member: Constance Eger

Website
The Green Haven Project

Port Saint Lucie, FL
Team Member: Antonella D'Aquino

Website
The Mustard Seed Cafe

El Paso, TX
Team Member: Virginia Kassfy

Website
The Oasis Project

Pittsburgh, PA
Team Member: Dori Puzycki

Website
The Refugee Collective

Austin, TX
Team Member: Ellen Gorra

Website
Thrive

Knoxville, TN
Team Member: Nancy Mitchell

Website
Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance

Decatur, GA
Team Member: Anthony Gibbs

Website
Twin Sisters Mobile Market

Everson, WA
Team Member: Barbi Smith

Website
UpBeat NYC

Bronx, NY
Team Member: Rose Sidibe

Website
Urban Farming Education

Phoenix, AZ
Team Member: Maanasi Balakrishnan

Website
Urban Harvest

Houston, TX
Team Member: Patrick Yanez

Website
Urban Roots

Austin, TX
Team Member: Kristen Williams

Website
Urban Seed

Eastpointe, MI
Team Member: Beth Dunraven

Website
We Stay-Nos Quedamos

Bronx, NY
Team Member: Brittany Tyler

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WellFed Community

Tampa, FL
Team Member: Kady Pontolilo

Website
Weymouth Food Pantry

Rockland, MA
Team Member: James Clancy

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Working Theory Farm

Hillsboro, OR
Team Member: Carli Chulew

Website