Tapestry Farms to hold fundraiser Friday
Tapestry Farms will hold its biggest fundraiser of the year this Friday.
The Spring Fling benefit is Friday, April 26, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street, Bettendorf.
Gather with Tapestry Farms supporters to celebrate the beginning of the growing season with the annual Spring Fling, where guests are invited to enjoy food, drinks, live music, a silent auction, a special guest speaker from Burundi, and more.
The group — based at the Annie Wittenmyer campus (2800 Eastern Ave.), Davenport — works to eliminate barriers refugees experience to housing, education, medical and mental health care, work, food, transportation, community, and citizenship.
Its mission is to connect “refugees and neighbors in a shared hope of joyful, thriving, healthy lives — where every person has access to the resources to live well.”
Tapestry Farms, assists refugees and their families as they rebuild their lives in the QC area with meaningful work, quality education and childcare, a safe and affordable home, good medical and mental health care, citizenship, and a caring community.
Tapestry Farms also operates an urban farm system that honors the skills and talents of refugees while growing fresh vegetables to minimize the effects of food deserts on marginalized communities in the area.
“We are so excited to gather in love and support of Tapestry Farms and the work that we do,” Ann McGlynn, founder and executive director, said in a Monday release. “The evening will be a joyful celebration. We look forward to a great time, all the while raising funds to invest in refugees in the Quad Cities community as they build their lives in our wonderful community.”
Over the last seven years, Tapestry Farms has served hundreds of refugees, 30 of whom are now citizens of the U.S. The work of Tapestry Farms is ongoing and funds are needed.
“This is our largest event of the year, with 300 people who are invested in our work gathering to spend time with each other and celebrate all that has been accomplished, and will be accomplished in the coming year,” McGlynn said, noting this will be its third Spring Fling.
They raised about $30,000 last year, and McGlynn said their goal of $40,000 this year is very much in reach.
“We are so thankful for all of our sponsors and those who have purchased tickets, given silent auction items, and volunteered their time to make it a success,” she said.
The nonprofit will mark its seventh anniversary in June. This year, it will also reach a milestone of 100 families who have worked with Tapestry Farms in some way. This could be as simple as ensuring they have enough food to eat, or as complex as working through long-term challenges.
“We focus on safe and affordable homes, basic needs, medical/mental health care, work, transportation, building community, and if an individual so chooses, becoming a U.S. citizen,” McGlynn said.
Special guest speaker
Guest speaker Fidele Muragara (a refugee and St. Ambrose University student) will share his story in an address to supporters on Friday night.
“Fidele is an incredible human being. He is kind and thoughtful, takes very good care of his family, and is absolutely thriving in college at St. Ambrose University,” McGlynn said by email. “Fidele is curious about the world, and thinks a lot about how he can do the most good. He is fun to be around, and we are so thankful he said yes to sharing some of his story.”
Born in a refugee camp in Burundi, his family is from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Fidele came to the United States in November 2017 with his mom and five siblings. At the time, he was 12 years old — the oldest in his family.
They were first resettled in Wichita, Kansas. In November 2018, Fidele’s mom decided to move her family to Davenport. She had heard that housing was affordable, and that she could find work here, McGlynn said, noting she also had friends who lived here.
Fidele had gone to school in his refugee camp in Burundi (other refugee camps sometimes do not make school accessible), so learning English came relatively easy for him. He first attended Williams Intermediate in Davenport, then went on to Davenport West High School. He found supportive teachers and staff in the Davenport schools, people who cheered him on and ensured he got the most out of his years there, McGlynn said.
Fidele speaks a few languages; his first language is Swahili.
Recently, a circle of friends connected with Tapestry Farms have supported him in his transition as a first-generation college student. For example, board members Sarah Rissler and Ann Garton both work at St. Ambrose, and have offered strong and consistent guidance on campus.
He has an off-campus team as well, helping him navigate what he needed for his first dorm room and ensuring his FAFSA is filled out, McGlynn said. Fidele also had an opportunity to go on a spring break trip through campus ministries, led by Nicky Gant, who is also connected with Tapestry Farms.
Fidele is majoring in industrial engineering and finance at St. Ambrose. He is a first-year student there.
The Spring Fling tickets are $60, $80 or $100, available HERE. For more information on Tapestry Farms, click HERE.
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