image by Dan Phillips Photography – Cedar Falls, Iowa
Eric Giddens, his wife Kendra, their 11-year old son Henry, their “son” Alan, an international student from Honduras, and cats Nemo and Skippy John currently reside in Cedar Falls. Eric is a Program Manager at the Tallgrass Prairie Center and the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at UNI. Kendra, a Cedar Falls native, is the music teacher at Southdale Elementary School.
Kendra and Eric met in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa in 1998, were later married and moved to their first home in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2004. Henry was born a year later, and then in 2006 they moved to Cedar Falls so that Kendra could be closer to her family. Eric and Kendra are now very much rooted in the community. They love the variety of cultural, artistic and recreational activities that the Cedar Valley offers. Eric describes it as “a big city appeal with a small town feel”. They enjoy travelling and outdoor activities such as bike riding on our wonderful Cedar Valley trail system, hiking in Hartman Reserve and George Wyth Park, as well as kayaking at Big Woods Lake. In addition, Henry keeps busy playing the piano and trombone as well as rock climbing at the UNI Wellness and Rec Center and Alan is focused on his studies at Hawkeye Community College.
Some of their favorite places to frequent are Sidecar Coffee, Cup of Joe and Cottonwood Canyon for coffee, SingleSpeed Brewing and Mulligans for drinks, and meals at Tony’s, Brown Bottle and Montage. They are also loyal patrons of Hansen’s Dairy Outlet and the Cedar Falls Farmer’s Market. Kendra does most of the cooking at home, preparing dishes that range from ethnic/international to down-home comfort food. Eric adds that “Kendra works her way through cookbooks like nobody’s business”.
Eric and Kendra are members of the Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalist congregation and give back to the community by volunteering their time. Kendra directs after school choir groups at Southdale Elementary and is on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Hartman Reserve. Eric coaches Henry’s Lego League team at Cedar Heights Elementary and is on the Cedar Falls Community Schools Facilities Committee.
With regard to the Cedar Falls Food Co-Op, they are most excited about the community feeling that co-ops foster. Eric says that a food co-op is “a real focal point that is centered around healthy living”. It is a place where individuals who are committed to healthy, sustainable living feel like they belong.