Organic Food Access Through Pay-it-Forward Cafe

Matthew 25 is a nonprofit working to leverage the benefits of healthy food as a community- building tool within Cedar Rapids while also providing a pathway for education and investment in safe housing.

Groundswell Café is a “pay-it-forward” eatery that provides access to a menu of fresh, organic meals and a dignified dining experience for all visitors — regardless of their ability to pay. To help cover these costs, paying patrons can round up their bills or donate, a gesture that helps reduce food insecurity and provides healthy, high-quality food options for those who can’t afford it.

The café also prepares Good Meals To Go, affordable grab-n-go meals available at Matthew 25’s Cultivate Hope Corner Store, and offers classes on eating and cooking with organic food to help build healthy skills and educate the community.

Groundswell Café will receive a $17,500 grant from Simply Organic® in 2025-2026 to continue supporting these initiatives and bringing healthy, organic food options to residents who need them most.