Transform Week
2025-06-23 08:30 - 2025-06-27 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Volunteer at our 10th Annual Transform Week, June 23-27!
Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to participate in a variety of projects, from yard cleanup and painting fences, to installing windows and patching roofs.
Thanks to amazing volunteers like you, we are able to continue our commitment to quality affordable housing and strong neighborhood building.
Check out our webpage to learn more, or click here to register for one, two, or all five days of Transform!

Urban Farm Art Adventure Camp
2025-06-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Unleash your child’s creativity at our Urban Farm Art Camp for those 7-10 years old! This exciting 4-day program, June 23-26, 2025, combines the beauty of nature with the joy of artistic expression. Campers will explore a variety of food and environmental-themed art projects, from painting landscapes to crafting nature-inspired sculptures. Each day is a new adventure, as kids immerse themselves in their environment while learning new techniques and building their confidence in art.
Perfect for budding artists, this camp offers a fun, hands-on experience that fosters creativity, teamwork, and a love for the natural world.
Sign up today and watch your child’s imagination soar!
This art food camp is for those 7-10 years old and is limited to 10 students. Cost is $120/student for the 4-day camp.
If your child would love to attend, click here to complete the registration form.

Cultivate Hope Mega Market
2025-06-26 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-31 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-28 16:00 - 19:00 | Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
The Cultivate Hope Mega Market is a celebration of food, music, activities, and community at the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, located at 437 G Ave. NW. We feature our locally-grown produce, the brick oven is blazing as we create pizzas for you, your family, and your friends to enjoy in our beautiful setting. In 2025, each Mega Market will have a special theme surrounding activities, food and fun. Mark your calendars. We hope to see you all there! Come out and enjoy!

This year’s Mega Markets are held from 4-7 pm on the last Thursday of the month from May-September.
This year’s dates with their special themes are:
May 29 – Bloom
June 26 – Garden Party
July 31 – Midsummer Night’s Dream
August 28 – Tomato Time
September 25 – Harvest Festival

Farm Stand Market
2025-06-26 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-03 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-10 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-17 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-24 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-31 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-07 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-14 16:00 - 19:00 and 4 more dates | Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
At our Farm Stand, we provide fresh, locally-grown produce from the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, grown without pesticides or herbicides in the heart of Cedar Rapids. Our CSA members will be picking up their weekly produce, plus we’ll have other items available for sale. If you want to stay up on what we have for sale each week, join our email list here.
Farm Stand Markets are held from 4-7 pm every Thursday from May 22 – October 2 at the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW.
Cash or card is accepted. See you at the farm!

Community Building Potluck
2025-07-01 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-09-02 17:00 - 18:30 | Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Join Us for Matthew 25’s Community Building Potlucks!
We’re excited to announce a new way to connect with neighbors and build a stronger community—Matthew 25’s Community Building Potlucks, happening every first Tuesday of the month!
Bring a dish to share and enjoy a warm, welcoming atmosphere filled with great food and meaningful conversations. Whether you’re looking to make new friends, strengthen community ties, or simply enjoy a delicious meal, this is the perfect opportunity.
📅 When: First Tuesday of every month
📍 Where: Matthew 25
🍽 What to Bring: A dish to share (if you can!) See what others are bringing and sign up to bring a special dish here.
All are welcome—come as you are and bring a friend! Let’s share food, stories, and connections that strengthen our community. For more details, visit call 319-362-2214.

You’re Invited: Celebrating Clint!
2025-07-09 15:30 - 18:30 | IA
Join us as we honor Clint Twedt-Ball and celebrate his 19 years of dedicated service to Matthew 25!
Stop by the Groundswell Event Center at 201 3rd AVE SW, Cedar Rapids, on Wednesday, July 9 from 3:30–6:30 PM for an open house-style celebration filled with gratitude, memories, and community.
The Matthew 25 Staff and Board of Directors invite you to help us thank Clint for all he has accomplished and send him off with appreciation and well-wishes as he embarks on his next chapter.
All are welcome!

Fridays at the Farm Food Camp
2025-08-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Spend your Fridays at the Farm in August learning about growing and making your own food! Come each week, or sign up for just a few. Dates are August 1,8, and 15 from 9 am – 12 pm.
We will harvest fruits and veggies for snacks and baking, make pickles and salsa, and explore the ins and outs of growing our own food.
We’ll even try some tie dye with our scraps. There’s lots to learn and explore on the farm, we hope you join us!
These food camps are for those 7-10 years old and is limited to 10 students each Friday. Cost is $30 per Friday.
If your child would love to attend our camps on Fridays in August, click here to complete the registration form.

Community Building Potluck
2025-08-05 17:00 - 18:30 | Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Join Us for Matthew 25’s Community Building Potlucks!
We’re excited to announce a new way to connect with neighbors and build a stronger community—Matthew 25’s Community Building Potlucks, happening every first Tuesday of the month!
Bring a dish to share and enjoy a warm, welcoming atmosphere filled with great food and meaningful conversations. Whether you’re looking to make new friends, strengthen community ties, or simply enjoy a delicious meal, this is the perfect opportunity.
📅 When: First Tuesday of every month
📍 Where: Matthew 25’s Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 604 Ellis BLVD NW (August Only – as a part of National Night Out)
🍽 What to Bring: A dish to share (if you can!) See what others are bringing and sign up to bring a special dish here.
All are welcome—come as you are and bring a friend! Let’s share food, stories, and connections that strengthen our community. For more details, visit call 319-362-2214.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration: Cultivate Hope Corner Store Parking Lot
2025-08-19 08:45 - 09:15 | Cultivate Hope Corner Store, 604 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, United States
🎉 Ribbon Cutting Celebration: Cultivate Hope Corner Store Parking Lot 🎉📅 Tuesday, August 19 | 🕣 8:45 AM
Join us as we officially celebrate the opening of our brand-new parking lot at the Cultivate Hope Corner Store! After months of planning and progress, we’re excited to mark this milestone with a special ribbon cutting ceremony—and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Stop by, connect with community members, and help us recognize the people and partners who made this project possible. Whether you walk, roll, or drive—we finally have a space to park!
No RSVP needed—just bring your enthusiasm and a smile. See you there!

Everybody Eats Week at Groundswell Cafe
2025-08-25 07:00 - 2025-08-30 14:00 | Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
Throughout the week of August 25-30, we’ll be raising money for our Pay-It-Forward Fund, which helps cover meals for those who may not be able to pay the full amount. This fund is at the heart of our mission—it’s how we ensure that everyone who walks through our doors can sit down to enjoy a nourishing meal with dignity.
When you dine at Groundswell during Everybody Eats Week, you’ll not only enjoy fresh, delicious food—you’ll also be part of something bigger. Each meal purchased, each tip or donation given, and each story shared adds to a ripple of kindness that feeds both body and soul. Special dish this week: Bananas Foster French Toast – $2 from the sale of each special will go to our pay-it-forward fund.
Last year during this week, Groundswell raised important funds that directly supported neighbors in need. This year, we’re hoping to raise at $1500 towards our Pay-It-Forward Fund.
Come join us, invite a friend, and spread the word. Because when everybody eats, everybody wins.
👉 Visit us at Groundswell Cafe during Everybody Eats Week or donate here and help make a difference!

Storytellers of Cedar Rapids
2025-09-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
We’re thrilled to announce the second season of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids, a live storytelling series produced by Akwi Nji and Courtney Ball.
Rooted in the belief that stories connect us, this four-part series invites local voices to the stage to share true, personal stories inspired by themes drawn from Matthew 25’s core pillars: Learning, Nourishment, Shelter, and Community. Each evening is a celebration of vulnerability, truth, and the power of storytelling to create belonging.
Storytellers for the September 3 show include:

Courtney Ball
Dani Cirves
Clarice Krippner
Harold Walehwa
Lauren White

Adding to the atmosphere of the evening, special musical guest Anji Kat, an award-winning and soulful local artist, will perform live!
Season 2 Lineup
📍 September 3 — What I Thought I Knew🍽️ November 12 — What I Hunger For🏠 March 4 — Seeking Shelter🤝 May 6 — There Are No Strangers Here
All shows begin at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM)Location: Groundswell, 201 3rd AVE SW
Come for the stories. Stay for the connection.
Sponsors
We are grateful to these sponsors for their support in making Storytellers of Cedar Rapids possible:
Guiding Sponsors

National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council (as part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority)
Barry and Gilda Boyer
Michelle LeCompte and the James and Doris LeCompte Endowment Fund

Inspiring Sponsor

David Maier

Tickets
Tickets for tonight’s show are sold out, if you have any questions, please call 319-200-2789.
All ticket transactions are final and non-refundable. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support.

Nutrition Night: Back-to-School Veggies
2025-09-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Cultivate Hope Corner Store, 604 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, United States
Kick off the school year with tasty, kid-friendly veggie ideas! Join us for hands-on demos, quick tips, and bite-size tastings to help your family eat well on busy weeknights.
What’s happening:

Theme: Back-to-School Veggies
Cooking Demos: Hide Your Veggies Mac ’N’ Cheese at 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM
Tastings & Tips: Sample easy vegetable add-ins and what’s in a smoothie quiz, and learn smart swaps for school lunches and after-school snacks
Family-Friendly Fun: Short, practical lessons and interactive stations—perfect for all ages

When & where:

Date: Wednesday, September 10
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM (drop in any time)
Location: Cultivate Hope Corner Store, 604 Ellis Blvd NW

Come hungry for ideas (and samples!). Bring a friend, bring the kiddos, and leave with quick, affordable ways to sneak more veggies onto the plate.
