DeKalb Times

The DeKalb County Township granted the DeKalb County Community Gardens with a $5,000 grant in order to help them fight food insecurity. The grant by the township was awarded in the wake of coronavirus as more people are dealing with food insecurity.

“We have seen an overwhelming increase for basic needs including food, and household supplies," said DeKalb Township Supervisor Jennifer Jeep Johnson, according to The Daily Chronicle. "We are so grateful to have a partner agency that understands the importance of fresh foods, as well as accessibility to food systems for the residents of DeKalb Township, and the whole county.”

The Executive Director of DCCG, Dan Kenney reported that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of food boxes that the gardens gives out each week has increased by over 100. This amount of food insecurity is putting a strain on the gardens which usually do not feed such a large number of people.

In order to keep up with the recent demand, the gardens has also had to heavily increase the amount of spending to purchase goods from the Northern Illinois Food Bank by 480% which equals almost 18,000 pounds of food and around 14,000 individual meals.

With the funds provided by the DeKalb Township, the DeKalb Community Gardens says that it can purchase $8 worth of food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank with every $1 of donations.

“We are extremely grateful that DeKalb Township has entrusted us with this gift. It will be a great help because the demand right now is tremendous,” Kenney told the Daily Chronicle.

Additionally, the demand at the DCCG Grow Mobile pop-up food pantries has also grown to over 120% its usual rate, and the DCCG Genoa Area Community Food Hub is serving three times the residents as compared to last year.

The DCCG is now providing pre-packed food by drive-thru at the Grow Mobile pop-up pantries across DeKalb County. They can be reached on their Facebook or Twitter at @dccgardens and at their website www.dekalbgardens.org.