About Us

Mission, Vision, and Values

The mission of the UGC is to strengthen the local food system, improve access to healthy food, and empower folks to grow their own.

Our vision is to develop the community leaders and institutional structures necessary to provide a sustainable and timely response based in small-scale agricultural production to the incidence of poverty, food insecurity, and diet related disease in McLennan County

Our values include:

• Equity in access to food and the resources needed to grow your own food
• Community ownership and cooperation in finding the appropriate response to the problems that face our community
• Entrepreneurialism in providing solutions to problems that can be sustained, at least in part, through the development of for-profit structures and the skills necessary to succeed in for-profit businesses
• Service to our neighbors and in our neighborhoods as essential to solving our community problems
• Transparency and openness in our actions and decision-making processes
• Accountability and honesty in our stewardship of resources

Since 2005, The UGC has placed the highest priority on garden programming in neighborhoods with poor access to healthy food markets and high rates of poverty.  However, all people and organizations are eligible to receive assistance from and partner with the Coalition.  As a coalition, the role of the UGC is to encourage and support partners and interested individuals to carry out identified objectives which relate to our mission – by providing support through shared resources of garden skills and knowledge.  Our Coalition members, board of directors, and committee participants include a broad array of individuals from the greater Waco community.  Click here for a brief outline of some past programs.

We are a 501(c)3 incorporated nonprofit on record with the IRS, so all donations are tax deductible.

Contract Employee: 

• N/A, Education and Outreach Coordinator

2017 BOARD of DIRECTORS:

• Barbara Foxx – President
• Vernon Clark – Vice President
• Barry Vokes – Treasurer
• Dan Hiatt – Secretary
• Lucas Land

Any questions directed at Board Members can be sent to hotugc@gmail.com

Financial Statements and Accountability

We seek to be good stewards of funds we receive to carry out our mission.  All of our board and member meetings are open meetings which include a review of our financial statements and a discussion of how to best use funds to further our mission.  Check out the following documents:

2016 Updated Bylaws

2011 Annual Report

2012 Updated Bylaws

2012 IRS Determination Letter

2012 Explanation of Financial Position, Annual Profit and Loss 2012, and Annual Statement of Cash Flows 2012

2010 Articles of Incorporation