Mercy Gardens
Fresh and Local for all
Mercy Gardens increases access to fresh, locally grown produce to the community.
At Mercy Gardens, we grow fresh, local produce on 6 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
Contributing to a Resilient, Market-Based Local Food System
We are strengthening Decatur’s local food system by creating equitable access and sustainable opportunities for both consumers and growers through the Downtown Decatur Farmers Market. At the market, we proudly accept SNAP benefits and participate in a state program that doubles SNAP spending on fresh produce.
Here’s how it works: a shopper can use $20 in SNAP benefits each week and receive an additional $20 in free vouchers specifically for fresh produce.
This model benefits everyone—it stretches food budgets for SNAP recipients, increases sales for local farmers, and supports Mercy Gardens by reinvesting produce sales back into our programs. The market also represents an important step toward building a stronger distribution network for locally grown food.
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
