Hi! Our names are Nate and Ben. Since 2016 we've been "growing" an organization called MNyou Inc. MNyou is a non-profit youth development/youth garden organization dedicated to "getting food onto the plates of those who need it the most." We do this through an innovative, year-round, "Buy One, Give One" Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative. The way it works is that for every subscription sold, we provide the same size share to a family in the community needing a hand up.

In order to accomplish this goal, MNyou provides youth from all different backgrounds with a job opportunity like no other. Each Spring, MNyou hires 20-30 youth to work in a garden and greenhouse setting. Throughout the summer, youth are taught how to grow, manage, and market a wide variety of vegetables by the MNyou team and its many volunteers. Because the project is so big and the team is so small, youth have an opportunity to further their soft skills (communication, problem-solving, time management, etc.) while also learning about the value of community and the well-being of all.

In March of this year, 30 youth started preparing for the summer growing season. While all of the plants and youth are ready to get working in the dirt, mother nature had other plans.

On Sunday, May 8th, around 9 AM, damaging winds tore through West Central Minnesota, uprooting trees and destroying numerous buildings in its path. Unfortunately, the MNyou veggie farm fell victim to its destruction as well. While we're happy to report that no injuries were sustained by people on-site, two of MNyou's vital structures were completely destroyed. Two hoop-houses, one 30-footer and the other a 90-footer, valued at over $30k, were ripped from the ground and torn to pieces; nothing was able to be salvaged. Because they are not considered permanent structures, insurance is unable to cover them leaving MNyou at a complete loss.

These hoop-houses are vital to the success of MNyou. They provide the essential vegetables to the CSA program with protection from the elements and predators, as well as create the ideal climate for them to thrive in. Without these structures, MNyou is in danger of losing over 40% of the crops needed to provide people in the community with fresh, affordable, and accessible produce throughout the entire year. As a result, MNyou may be forced to turn away a number of youth already working in the program.

For everyone involved in this organization, MNyou is a passion project. Most of the time spent in the garden working with kids is volunteer. This means MNyou relies very heavily on grant funding and CSA subscriptions, neither of which will generate enough funding to recoup a $30k+ loss.

We've been fortunate, up until now, to never rely on developing fundraising campaigns or asking for donations, but right now, we are in need of a hand-up. While this fundraiser is being created to assist MNyou in rebuilding the physical structures destroyed in the "Mother's Day Storm of 2022", this fundraiser will be helping with so much more. This summer, MNyou is poised to provide over 500 people in the Willmar Lakes Area with fresh, weekly produce at an affordable price and for many, completely free. Your support helps to ensure that food is getting onto the plates of 500 of your friends and neighbors in West Central Minnesota who need it the most.