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The community garden at Growing Hope in Ypsilanti. (Tom Perkins | For The Ann Arbor News)

YPSILANTI, MI -- A $150,000 grant from Toyota Motor North America will go toward helping more Ypsilanti residents access affordable, fresh produce and educate students on nutrition through Growing Hope, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels and Ypsilanti Community Schools.

The gift comes as Toyota Motor North America Research and Development prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Michigan.

"We are excited that Toyota has decided to invest in Ypsilanti," said Kristen Teasdale, development director at Growing Hope, in a press release.

"They clearly understand the mobility challenges that many in our community face to finding healthy food. With their support, Growing Hope can continue to operate the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets and expand our reach of the Mobile Farm Stand."

The grant is meant to highlight the company's commitment to increasing mobility around the world and in the local community.

The funds will help build and expand Ypsilanti youth gardens as "outdoor classrooms."

Toyota will donate a Tacoma Pickup Truck to Growing Hope in order to haul the Ypsilanti Mobile Farm Stand to each location.

The Farm Stand will set up at locations where seniors and youth congregate to provide them with access to fresh, affordable produce.

The grant funds also will strengthen the partnership between Growing Hope and Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.

Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels will use a portion of the money to improve the quality and increase the quantity of meals delivered to homebound seniors. Meal preparation will be done locally after the group moves to the soon-to-be completed Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace kitchen facility.

"Our clients' health will benefit greatly from having meals that are prepared fresh daily," said Alison Foreman, executive director at Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels. "Using Growing Hope's MarketPlace kitchen will help us be more self-sustaining and allow us to produce more meals,"

Toyota's funds dedicated to STEM education will also going toward Growing Hope's demonstration farm hosting hundreds of Ypsilanti youth every year to learn about environment, nutrition and where their food comes from.

Ypsilanti Community Schools has a partnership with Growing Hope to set up school gardens, but with schools frequently moving to different buildings, some of these gardens no longer exist.

With the new funds, the district plans to hire a part-time garden coordinator to support schools that are ready to jumpstart their gardens.

"Having a strong STEM education program is so important to Ypsilanti students. What better place to learn these concepts than in a school garden? We are excited to continue our partnership with Growing Hope, and grateful to Toyota for making the investment," says Kharena Keith, coordinator of Wellness and Community Partnerships at YCS.