COMMUNITY GARDEN
American Reformed Church has provided the vision and space for the only community garden in Orange City. The mission of the Community Garden at ARC is to cultivate community through gardening, to provide for the needs of community members, and to model and educate on care for creation.
The Community Garden at ARC offers 56 plots, located north of the church parking lot; each plot is 20x20 feet. The plots can be reserved by anyone who enjoys growing their own produce and gathering together. All levels of gardening experience are welcome, from experts to novices. There is access to four water spigots—two on each the north and south sides of the garden—and compost may be placed in the unit on-site.
Fruit Orchard
East of the garden plots are raspberry and rhubarb patches as well as an expanding orchard. Produce from the patches and orchard is available “you-pick” and first-come, first-served to anyone with a garden plot.
Reserving your garden: $25/season*
Our mission is to provide a place for community among people of all diverse backgrounds: cultural, religious, and economic. ANYONE can reserve a community garden plot; you do not need to be a member of American Reformed Church. Gardeners from the previous year are given first option of renewing their plot reservation. New reservations are taken year-round and placed on a waiting list for available plots.
*Garden rental proceeds are used for garden maintenance, improvement, and expansion. Anyone for whom $25 is a financial hardship may request a lower rate.
Contact:
Jan Vandermeulen
Community Garden Committee Chair
janicevandermeulen@gmail.com
ORANGE CITY FOOD PANTRY
The Orange City Food Pantry, hosted by American Reformed Church, is a shared ministry supported by 14 partner churches. The purpose of the Orange City Food Pantry is to provide food assistance to residents of Alton, Granville, Hospers, Maurice, and Orange City.
REGULAR PANTRY DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
The food pantry provides a monthly distribution:
4th Saturday of every month
9 to 11:30 a.m.
EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION
If you're in a crisis and need help right away, please get a referral from a social or government agency, or a pastor, priest, or other church leader. The person referring you should call the American Reformed Church office with your contact information. After that, we can arrange a time for you to pick up food.
ARC Office: 712-737-4430 or office@americanchurchoc.com
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
DONATIONS
Financial Donations
Your financial donations are used to keep the pantry stocked. To donate, you can use our secure online giving platform. Alternatively, checks can be made out to Orange City Food Pantry and mailed to American Reformed Church at the address below.
Grocery Donations
We are always in need of grocery donations. You can drop off groceries at the east entry vestibule of American Reformed Church (lower-level main entrance off parking lot). The vestibule is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: while the drop-off location is unattended, donations are checked regularly.)
Basic Items
sugar
cooking oil
maseca
dried rice
dried beans (black & pinto)
ramen noodles (shrimp flavor + spicy)
Canned items
fruit (peaches, pineapple)
vegetables (whole kernel corn)
beans (kidney, black and garbanzo)
spaghetti sauce
tuna + chicken
Personal Hygiene
toilet paper
tampons + pads
shampoo
toothpaste
dish + laundry soap
bar soap
deodorant
Please note: Unfortunately, we cannot accept dented, outdated, opened, or home-canned items.
Food Drives
If your church or group wants to host a food drive, please contact Jill Haarsma, volunteer pantry director to discuss specific needs, details, and to arrange a time for drop-off.
OTHER LOCAL RESOURCES
Department of Health Human Services
215 Central Ave SE
Orange City
712-737-2943
618 14th ST SE
Sioux Center
712-722-3611
1008 3rd Ave
Alton
712-756-4456
1913 S Main Ave
Sioux Center
712-722-3937
A complete list of local resources is available online at Sioux County Community Health Partners.
Questions? Contact Jill Haarsma, volunteer pantry director | 712-737-7377 (email preferred)
Orange City Food Pantry
407 Albany Ave SE | Orange City, IA 51041 | orangecity.foodpantry@gmail.com
A shared ministry serving Alton, Granville, Hospers, Maurice & Orange City Communities
Alton Presbyterian Church * Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church * American Reformed Church * Calvary Christian Reformed Church * Dover Church * Faith Lutheran Church * First Christian Reformed Church * First Reformed Church * Immanuel Christian Reformed Church * Living Water Church * Maurice Reformed Church * New Hope Evangelical Free Church * Newkirk Reformed Church * Trinity Reformed Church
KIDS HOPE USA
Loving Our Neighbors Beyond Church Walls
Mission: Kids Hope USA builds life-changing relationships one at a time: One Child. One Hour. One School. One Church.
What: American Reformed Church partners with Orange City Elementary School through a nonprofit organization called Kids Hope USA to match mentors with students considered “at-risk” in our community. One adult spends one hour with one student once a week to build a mentoring relationship.
Who: Mentors —Trusted adults of ARC who commit to meeting with a student until they graduate from 5th grade.
Prayer Partners —Trusted adults of ARC who partner with one particular mentor/student pair and pray regularly for transformation and hope in the name of Jesus.
Where: Orange City Elementary School in Orange City, Iowa
When: Lunch hour. Mentors choose a day of the week that works best for them and remain committed to showing up that day throughout the school year.
Why: One of our key practices at ARC is to Serve. Through Kids Hope USA, we go outside our church walls to love and serve students considered “at-risk” for social, academic, or emotional needs. We build relationships to show children that they matter—to us, to our community, and to God.
Questions? Contact Lizzy Rice, ARC's Director of Children's and Middle School Formation, at lizzy.r@americanchurchoc.com.
LIFESERVE BLOOD DRIVES
American Reformed Church hosts two blood drives a month through LifeServe: the second Thursday of the month from 1pm-6pm and the fourth Thursday of the month from 9:30am-2pm. Sign up to give blood at https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/