Columbia International University 2017 graduate Tori Veldhuizen is putting her degree in International Community Development (ICD) to use in the United States — for now. Along with her husband Shane, a former CIU student, the Velduizens manage First Fruits Market Garden, a nonprofit created by Blythewood (South Carolina) Presbyterian Church, supplying a local food pantry with fresh produce.

Neither of the Veldhuizens comes from an agricultural background, but Tori studied hunger education and resources over a semester as a part of her ICD degree. The focus on farming gave her the urge to till the earth. The couple’s future plans include doing similar work overseas.

Tori Veldhuizen is the daughter of CIU alumni Steve and Arlene Richardson. Steve is president of the missions agency Pioneers-USA. Arlene founded HeartCraft, a ministry helping people in need by marketing products from small enterprises in the developing world.  

The work of the Veldhuizens caught the attention of the online news source Cola Daily. Read Blythewood couple share “first fruits” with community.

Find out where a degree in International Community Development can take you. Excitement is building on the CIU campus with a dramatic increase in enrollment and on-campus expansion. Information on enrollment is available here or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.