Our History

Matthew 25 began in a choir robes closet in the basement of Trinity United Methodist Church. Initial programs included free music lessons and reading mentorship for Taylor Elementary students, as well as free summer lunches and tax preparation in coordination with the Weed & Seed program operated by the Sixth Judicial District.

Clint and Courtney officially became Co-Executive Directors of Matthew 25, working 20 hours per week.

Cedar Rapids experienced catastrophic flooding, with the Cedar River cresting at 31.12 ft (19 ft above flood stage). The Time Check and Taylor neighborhoods were hit particularly hard. More than ten square miles were flooded and thousands of residents were evacuated. Among them were Courtney and his family, who moved in with Clint’s family. The Matthew 25 office was also destroyed. Within two weeks of the flood, Matthew 25 moved to Sharon United Methodist Church and was again offering free lunches.

Friends from Michigan called and said they had a truck full of tools they’d gathered from their congregations and were bringing them over as a donation. Matthew 25 formed a Tool Library so these tools could be available to the community to use as they repaired their homes.

Much of 2008 was spent going door to door and listening to people’s stories. Clint and Courtney acted as community organizers, mobilizing resources and advocating for struggling neighbors. Matthew 25 gave out several semis worth of furniture, tools and other donations. We also held forums with more than 150 attendees where residents shared their hopes and frustrations with city leaders.

Matthew 25 listened as frustrated neighbors shared their concerns about the slow pace of spotty flood recovery. Clint and Courtney proposed a program that would put flood-impacted homeowners in the driver’s seat of recovery, rebuilding one block at a time. Each block needed to have more than 60% of residents agree to help bring their block back. Block members committed to meet regularly, support one another, and work with volunteers and contracted labor. Like many things at Matthew 25, the program emerged from expressed needs and gifts. When Clint met with Jim Ernst, the CEO of Four Oaks, he learned that a donor was looking to donate $1 million to an organization helping with flood recovery. John and Dyan Smith’s $1 million was matched by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Matthew 25, Four Oaks, and the United Methodist Church partnered to move the envisioned program forward. Eventually, it would raise more than $6 million and support more than 250 residents on 25 blocks.

Matthew 25 launched this venue as a place for young performers to express themselves and share their talents with the community through open mic nights, concerts, and more.

More than 1,200 homes were demolished in the aftermath of the 2008 flood. Four years later, there were still many vacant lots and empty buildings, including one particular section of NW Cedar Rapids where there were 18 lots full of weeds and rotting buildings. Matthew 25 made a proposal to the City of Cedar Rapids to purchase the lots for $1 so that we could put the state’s first urban farm on the land. As a result, the City developed the state’s first urban agriculture policy and sold the land to Matthew 25, which we then developed into a beautiful green space that provides fresh, healthy produce to the neighborhood.

Matthew 25 created our first school garden partnership with Roosevelt Middle School.

After having our office destroyed by the 2008 flood, Matthew 25 worked out of many locations, including Sharon United Methodist Church, St. James United Methodist Church, the restored education building of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Flood Recovery Center, and the Hubbard Ice Building. In 2013, the historic Kingston Building, located at 201 Third Ave. SW, was up for sale through the City of Cedar Rapids. At that time, few investors saw potential in the Kingston Village area. Matthew 25 was the only entity to put in a proposal to acquire the building and the purchase was finalized in September.

Matthew 25 officially moved into our current location in the Kingston Building.

Matthew 25 launched the Grow Possibilities Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $1.8 million. The funds would be used to renovate the Kingston Building and add a greenhouse, garage, restrooms, produce storage, pavilion and brick oven to the urban farm.

Recognizing the challenges many homeowners face with basic maintenance, Matthew 25 wanted to create a program that matched them with skilled volunteers interested in giving back to the community through home repairs. Building upon knowledge and skills gained through the Block by Block program, we held the 1st Annual Transform Week.

Matthew 25 launched the Grow Taylor initiative with a focus on connecting, resourcing, and empowering neighbors in the Taylor neighborhood through activities such as green assessments, home repair, block parties, and community organizing.

Matthew 25 started several food education summer camps for grades K-8 to teach kids where food comes from and the importance of healthy eating.

Matthew 25 created a program where high school students can work on our Urban Farm and learn valuable job skills, including entrepreneurship, teamwork and communication.

An old house near the Urban Farm was remodeled by another organization using innovative energy-efficiency techniques, such as shredded jeans as insulation and light tubes. Matthew 25 took over this property and began renting it to guests through AirBnB.

Renovations focused on community building were completed at the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, including a pavilion, brick oven, storage space, large lawn, and greenhouse.

Matthew 25 established the state’s first and only pay-it-forward cafe, where everyone has access to fresh, healthy food, regardless of their ability to pay.

The Healthy Time Check initiative launched, focusing on revitalizing areas close to Ellis Blvd from E Ave. to K Ave. NW.

Eastern Iowa was hit by a powerful derecho, causing widespread devastation throughout Linn County. This unprecedented hurricane-like storm brought straight-line winds up to 140 miles per hour and lasted over 45 minutes. In Cedar Rapids alone, more than 65% of the tree canopy was lost and almost every structure within the 75 square miles of the city was damaged in some way, much of it severe. Matthew 25’s main building sustained serious roof and interior damage, and several rental properties and the Urban Farm had downed trees and other damage. Matthew 25 responded to this disaster by knocking on doors, listening to neighbors and delivering resources. We launched an emergency generator program, loaned chainsaws and organized volunteers to tarp roofs and complete other repairs. Due to building damage, Groundswell Cafe temporarily closed and its employees supported the derecho recovery program.

In partnership with several other agencies, Matthew 25 helped to create the PATCH Program to facilitate derecho recovery. We coordinated repairs for more than 200 homeowners, including tarping, patching and replacing roofs.

Matthew 25 launched the Healthy Neighborhoods Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $1 million to start the Cultivate Hope Corner Store, build new healthy homes, and renovate homes to rent in the Time Check Neighborhood.

Matthew 25 rehabilitated the 100-year-old Hosmer Building, located on what was once the highest crime corner of northwest Cedar Rapids, and turned it into a healthy food oasis. The Cultivate Hope Corner Store provides fresh, affordable produce and food staples in a former food desert neighborhood.

Today, Matthew 25 is a leading organization known for finding and building upon a neighborhood’s potential. With volunteers, partners and contributors, our innovative programs help people strengthen their own communities.