Non-profit Tapestry Farms received a donation of $18,500 from Ascentra Credit Union on Monday, Feb. 24 at Ascentra's Home Office in Bettendorf. Founded by Executive Director Ann McGlynn in 2017, Tapestry Farms has assisted almost 500 refugees in navigating life after resettlement. The non-profit organization employs refugees on 10 urban farming plots throughout the Quad Cities, providing job opportunities and food security, along with other social service programs.
Tapestry Farms Community Engagement Manager Leslie Klipsch said the donation will support a legal clinic opened within the organization last year. The clinic allows for new, in-house services, assisting refugees with green card and work authorization paperwork.
"This investment from Ascentra really means a lot," Klipsch said. "It's a testament to their commitment to serving this population and the people that live here, regardless of where they're from."
The donation comes from funding acquired for Ascentra's revolving loan with the Esperanza Legal Assistance Center. Before Esperanza's discontinuation at the end of 2024, the partnership provided low-interest loans to immigrants needing legal fee assistance for their citizenship. With Esperanza ending operations, both parties decided to donate the remaining funds to Tapestry Farms.
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