Mercy Gardens

Fresh and Local for all

Mercy Gardens increases nutrition across Decatur by increasing access to fresh, local, nutrient-dense produce to the community.

At Mercy Gardens, we grow fresh, local produce on 1.25 acres in Decatur, IL. This produce enhances Good Sam’s Noon Meal and also supports our partner food pantries including Northeast Community Fund, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and Crossing Healthcare.

2024 Yield:

57,161 servings (11,491 lbs) fresh produce provided in 2024

Partner Pantries:

  • Crossings Prescription Produce Program

  • Northeast Community Fund

  • Catholic Charities

  • The Salvation Army

Sustainable Programming as a Local Grower

We are reducing barriers through social enterprise, or a business that uses profits to serve the community. Through this model, we are engaging the local workforce, consumers, and producers, and utilizing the capital from this venture to give away produce at a free or reduced price to those in need.

We are excited to not only be local farmers, but support local farmers and vendors who sell fresh food. We believe this model works to benefit all while utilizing the free market.

Contributing to a Resilient, Market-Based Local Food System

We contribute to a resilient, market-based local food system over time in many ways including a local Farmer's Market in Downtown Decatur, started in June of 2023. We accept SNAP benefits and also double SNAP money spent on local produce via a State voucher program.

So, a person can swipe $20 weekly in SNAP and receive $20 toward SNAP-eligible items and $20 in free vouchers toward produce.

This benefits both SNAP recipients as well as local farmers. This market is one step in establishing a distribution network for local produce and provides income back to Mercy Gardens through its produce sales.

Mercy Market 2024

$2,139 run on LINK

$1,816 in matches

Total of $3,733 in market dollars spent by people with food assistance

Thank you to our Community Partners