Patron in the City: Brandon Query

We believe that passionate individuals can spur change in their communities. We refer to those individuals as Patrons in the City, dedicating their time, sweat, and energy to building vibrant communities.

One in seven households in America suffer from food insecurity, with limited or unreliable access to nutritious food. Last year, Orange County Food Trust, in partnership with Lost River Co-op & Cafe, launched a campaign on Patronicity to target this food barrier. They successfully raised funds for the Farms to Friends Farm Stand, a mobile farm stand serving multiple locations throughout Southern Indiana, creating a sustainable, community-driven solution that brings healthy, locally-grown fresh vegetables to the people. The campaign exceeded their goal by more than $1,500 and received a matching grant of $6,000 from the IHCDA's CreatINg Places program to purchase a trailer, construct the mobile farm stand, and add in a small fridge with a generator.

The Farm Stand was built by the Paoli High School Trade construction class, led by Jon Shellenberger. In 2025, it visited 72 different locations during the season – including parks, senior centers, Southern Indiana Community Health Care offices, food pantries, farmers markets, and more – making nutritious food accessible to thousands of locals.

“The Farm Stand provided fresh, local food to the elderly, low-income, and recovery populations. Once you witness the experience of someone shopping at Safe Haven Resource Day or Cambridge Square senior housing, you realize that the Farm Stand has allowed someone to shop independently, with dignity, choosing fresh, local food not always accessible to them.” –Janet Kennedy, chair of Orange County Food Trust

We spoke more with Brandon Query, the consultant from Orange County Community Foundation that ran this campaign, to learn about what can happen when you nurture a simple idea.

Patronicity: Why do you love where you live and work? Tell us about your community!

Brandon: I love the people in Orange County, IN. They have always been so warm and welcoming. There is a strong sense of community here where people genuinely care about one another and show up when it matters.

Patronicity: What was your project, and why is/was it necessary?

Brandon: Farms to Friends Farm Stand is a mobile farm stand connecting folks living in food deserts with healthy, locally grown food. It is necessary because too many residents lack easy access to fresh, affordable produce, and this project helps bridge that gap while supporting local farmers.

Patronicity: What inspired you to get involved or build this project?

Brandon: I see the power of local food to build local community resilience. When people have access to local food systems, it strengthens health, and builds community resilience and connection.

Patronicity: What have been the results of your crowdfunding campaign? How has the project changed your community?

Brandon: The Farm Stand has been mobile now for 2 years, serving thousands of individuals across Orange, Lawrence, and Crawford County. It has improved access to fresh food and created a consistent, trusted source of local produce for many families.

Patronicity: How has the community responded to your project?

Brandon: The response has been very positive. People are grateful for consistent access to fresh, local food, and farmers appreciate having a reliable outlet for their produce. It has helped build stronger connections between growers and the community.

Patronicity: What do you hope community members take away from this project?

Brandon: I hope people see that local food systems matter and that small, community-driven efforts can make a real difference. I hope they feel more connected to where their food comes from and more confident that local solutions can address real challenges like food access and food insecurity.

Patronicity: How did the IHCDA CreatINg Places grant improve your overall project and provide greater impact?

Brandon: The project happened because of this grant. It was something we had talked about for several years, but it was this opportunity that made it possible to move from idea to reality and bring it into the community.

Patronicity: What could other communities learn from your project?

Brandon: The IHCDA CreatINg Places program is a great opportunity for people to take a grassroots approach and bring something of value to their community. Small ideas, when supported, can grow into meaningful long-term impact.

Patronicity: If someone wanted to become more involved in their community, what advice would you give them?

Brandon: Start volunteering at a local nonprofit that you are interested in. You will get plugged in quickly this way, meet people who care about the same things, and naturally find where you can contribute most.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

The Farms to Friends Farm Stand shows us we don’t need tens of thousands of dollars to make an impact in our community. Contact your local food pantries and farmers markets to see how you can get involved with combating food insecurity in your town.

Have an idea already? Get started today at patronicity.com/start.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), in partnership with Patronicity, developed CreatINg Places, a place-based crowdgranting program. CreatINg Places supports projects that activate underutilized public spaces or create new public spaces in Indiana. The program transforms communities by harnessing the power of crowdfunding combined with a matching grant from the IHCDA.

Since 2016, CreatINg Places has supported over 350 projects across the state.