The Community Foundation’s Equity & Inclusion Committee granted $4,750 to RONS Farm-A.C. to become more self-sustaining.

“We believe in the work that RONS Farm is doing for the community, both by providing affordable produce and the much-needed space for developmentally disabled adults to find purpose through meaningful work and social interaction,” said Jazmyn Thomas, chair of the E&I Committee. “We also wanted to send a message that we are here for people of all abilities and backgrounds.” 

The grant will help the community-based farm purchase an 8-foot-high deer fence, something that is desperately needed after other attempts to prevent deer damage over the past three years have failed.

“The grant means a lot to me,” said Kathy Cox, founder of RONS Farm. “It means that we are closer to our goal of being financially self-sustaining as we will have a lot more to offer the community for sell. The deer were decimating almost everything in the market garden. It also means that our farm-assists and volunteers will be able to see the fruit of their labor, not just deer damage.”

RONS Farm, located in Casco Township, was established as a nonprofit in 2015 when Kathy decided to involve the community in growing produce for her restaurant. She has since sold the restaurant to dedicate her time to the farm.

The farm-assist program launched in 2018 when Special Dreams Farm closed its doors and their special needs adult farmers were seeking a place to find purpose. They currently have eight farm-assists.

Kathy said it’s commonplace to find programs for young children with special needs, but finding meaningful opportunities for adults is a difficult task for families. RONS Farm encourages this unique group of individuals to take ownership of projects on the farm, and they will be helping to install the deer fence as well as growing the produce it will protect.

E&I Committee grant funding for the deer fence came from the Special Dreams Farm Fund for Developmentally Disabled Adults, which supports programs that help create and provide skill-building and meaningful work for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the Thomas K. Smith Fund, which supports basic needs and community development. Other community donors have also stepped up to help purchase the fence.

In addition to the farm-assists, the farm also has other volunteers including veterans, church groups, homeschool families and school/student groups.

“One beautifully unique thing about RONS Farm is that the ‘farm-assists’ are almost indistinguishable from our volunteers,” Kathy said. “Everyone works together so as not to have an ‘us and them’ environment – it’s just ‘us’ working together to impact the community for the good by offering fresh, organic produce.” 

And that, Jazmyn said, is what the E&I Committee is all about. The committee works to help underserved groups tell their own story, be supported, and become philanthropists in their own circles of influence.

Other recent grants include support for the North American Indigenous Council, the multicultural philanthropy event hosted by the Blue Water Area Chamber, skill-building projects at Soaring Dreams, black history banners and a Juneteenth celebration.