Media Contact
For media inquiries or requests for press materials, photos, videos, and media interviews concerning Matthew 25, Groundswell, or Cultivate Hope, please contact Jana Bodensteiner at 319-200-2783.
Latest News
Funding Received
- August 8, 2022 – New grant from Mercy Medical funds health equity (The Gazette)
2022 Transform Week
- June 20, 2022 – Matthew 25’s annual Transform Week starts today (The Gazette)
- June 17, 2022 – Over 200 volunteers to help homeowners in Taylor/Time Check neighborhoods next week (KGAN)
Cultivate Hope Corner Store
- April 23, 2022 – Nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store brings healthy, reduced-cost food to Cedar Rapids’ Time Check neighborhood (The Gazette)
- April 24, 2022 – New corner grocery store looks to cultivate hope for a battered neighborhood (KGAN)
- April 25, 2022 – Matthew 25 opens Cultivate Hope Corner Store in Cedar Rapids (Corridor Business Journal)
- April 25, 2022 – Nonprofit Matthew 25 opens affordable grocery store in Cedar Rapids food desert (Little Village)
- April 27, 2022 – New Cedar Rapids store cultivates hope to fight food insecurity (KHAK)
- April 27, 2022 – Cultivate Hope Corner Store brings healthy food at affordable prices to Time Check neighborhood (KCRG)
- April 29, 2022 – Cultivate Hope Corner Store brings neighbors together and provides convenient and healthy food (Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church)
Groundswell Cafe
- March 10, 2022 – Cedar Rapids has a pay-it-forward cafe with all fresh and local food (KHAK)
2021 Iowa Character Awards
- August 25, 2021 – Matthew 25 to receive 2021 Iowa Character Award (The Gazette)
- June 17, 2021 – Iowans Who Promote Good Character To Be Honored With Awards (KIWA radio)
2021 Transform Week
- June 22, 2021 – Matthew 25 focuses on long-term, derecho repairs during Transform Week (KCRG)
- June 22, 2021 – Matthew 25’s Transform Week helping neighbors rise up (KWWL)
- June 22, 2021 – Matthew 25 works to repair Cedar Rapids homes during Transform Week (KGAN)
- June 16, 2021 – Matthew 25 looking for volunteers to help repair homes during Transform Week (KCRG)
- June 11, 2021 – Hundreds of volunteers will spend a week repairing low-income Cedar Rapids housing this month (Little Village)
- June 10, 2021 – Local nonprofit is still seeking volunteers for their week of home repairs (Iowa’s News Now)
- June 10, 2021 – Cedar Rapids nonprofit needs volunteers for annual weeklong home repair program (KWWL)
Healthy Neighborhoods: A Campaign to Invest in the Time Check Neighborhood
- April 23, 2021 – Matthew 25 launches $1 million campaign to develop housing, nonprofit grocery store in Time Check neighborhood (Little Village)
- April 20, 2021 – Cedar Rapids nonprofit launches campaign to invest $1 million in the Time Check neighborhood (The Gazette)
- April 20, 2021 – Matthew 25 details plans to open grocery store in hard-hit Cedar Rapids neighborhood (Iowa Public Radio)
- April 20, 2021 – Matthew 25 launches campaign to invest in Time Check neighborhood (KCRG)
- April 20, 2021 – Matthew 25 holds Healthy Neighborhoods open house (KWWL)
- April 20, 2021 – Matthew 25 hoping to turn food pantry into grocery store in Time Check neighborhood (KGAN)
Neighborhood Revitalization
- February 24, 2021 – Matthew 25 puts tools, hoes and hope in people’s hands (The Gazette)
Derecho Recovery Efforts
- March 12, 2021 – PATCH program in full swing helping homeowners repair derecho damage (KWWL)
- December 10, 2020 – Matthew 25 receives $100,000 grant for derecho home repairs (KWWL)
- November 30, 2020 – Patch Program helps homeowners with derecho damage prepare for winter (The Gazette)
- November 22, 2020 – Matthew 25 helping derecho victims repair homes ahead of winter (KCRG)
- September 5, 2020 – Matthew 25’s volunteer week focuses on derecho repairs (The Gazette)
- September 1, 2020 – Matthew 25 helping out derecho victims for ‘Transform Week’ (KCRG)
- August 25, 2020 – Nonprofit group Matthew 25 dealing with new disaster in their own back yard (Radio Iowa)
- August 24, 2020 – Matthew 25 offering free repairs for eligible homes damaged by derecho (Little Village)
- August 19, 2020 – National TV host puts spotlight on Cedar Rapids and local nonprofit (KHAK)
2020 Transform Week
- August 31, 2020 – Matthew 25 kicks off annual Transform week (Iowa’s New Now)
- October 16, 2019 – Cedar Rapids nonprofit Matthew 25 now taking applications for home repair program (Little Village)
Groundswell Cafe
- October 7, 2019 – Pay-it-forward cafe in Cedar Rapids celebrates first birthday (KCRG)
2019 Transform Week
- June 27, 2019 – Matthew 25’s Transform Week: Hundreds of volunteers in Cedar Rapids lend hearts and hands to neighbors (The Gazette)
Cultivate Hope Market
- June 4, 2019 – Matthew 25’s Farmers’ Market bringing fresh produce to a ‘food desert’ (KCRG)
- May 29, 2019 – Cultivate Hope Urban Farm’s farmers market opens for its second year, with new features and activities (Little Village)
Groundswell Cafe
- April 26, 2019 – Pay it forward cafe doubles foot traffic, receives huge grant (KGAN)
Community Advocacy
- April 25, 2019 – After city forced him to abandon his garden, Cedar Rapids man growing again (The Gazette)
Cultivate Hope Youth Development Program
- April 15, 2019 – Matthew 25 looking for high schoolers to work on urban farm (KCRG)
Neighborhood Revitalization
- April 7, 2019 – Cedar Rapids neighborhood gets a makeover (KWWL)
Groundswell Cafe
- March 5, 2019 – Matthew 25 provides free breakfast for the homeless (KCRG)
- March 5, 2019 – Groundswell Cafe hopes to see more steady flow of guests from all walks of life (KGAN)
2019 Transform Week
- February 26, 2019 – Matthew 25 taking applications for Transform Week (KCRG)
Community Advocacy
- February 14, 2019 – Cedar Rapids “green thumb” gets green light for urban garden (KGAN)
- February 6, 2019 – Once threatened with legal action, Cedar Rapids man allowed to garden again (Homegrown Iowan)
New Groundswell Cafe, Coworking & Events
- November 9, 2018 – LV Recommends: Groundswell Cafe (Little Village)
- October 26, 2018 – Corridor Characters: Aaron and Linda at the Groundswell Cafe (Flow Media)
- October 10, 2018 – Matthew 25 opens nonprofit “pay-it-forward” Groundswell Cafe (The Gazette)
- October 5, 2018 – Groundswell Cafe brings a pay-it-forward ethic and fresh, organic food to Cedar Rapids (Little Village)
- October 5, 2018 – Pay-it-forward cafe now open in Cedar Rapids (KCRG)
- October 5, 2018 – Matthew 25 to open pay-it-forward themed café in Cedar Rapids (KGAN)
2018 Cultivate Hope Youth Development Program
- August 10, 2018 – Youth development program works to Cultivate Hope on urban farm (The Gazette)
2018 Transform Week
- July 1, 2018 – Transform Week means transforming lives for some (The Gazette)
- June 25, 2018 – Matthew 25 volunteers work to repair 18 sites in Cedar Rapids neighborhood in one week (KGAN)
- June 25, 2018 – Volunteers “transforming” homes in need of repair (KCRG)
New Cultivate Hope Market
- May 29, 2018 – Matthew 25 kicks off the Cultivate Hope Market (KGAN)
- May 28, 2018 – Iowa’s first urban farm is opening its own farmers market (Little Village)
Renovated Home
- April 23, 2018 – Matthew 25 renovates abandoned flood home (KCRG)
- April 23, 2018 – Volunteers aid organization in rebuilding home damaged by 2008 flood (KGAN)
New Airbnb Farmhouse
- August 1, 2017 – Matthew 25 opens Airbnb in flood-affected area (KGAN)
Affordable Housing
- June 11, 2017 – Who lives in affordable housing? (The Gazette)
2017 Transform Week
- May 30, 2017 – Matthew 25 seeks volunteers to help transform Cedar Rapids homes (The Gazette)
- March 21, 2017 – Faith-based nonprofit transforming neighborhoods for second straight year (KGAN)
New Headquarters in Historic Kingston Building
- November 10, 2016 – Matthew 25 debuts new Cedar Rapids headquarters Friday (The Gazette)