Grant helps DeKalb County Community Gardens fight food insecurity

DEKALB, Ill. (WIFR) - As 13% of DeKalb residents face food insecurity, the DeKalb County Community Gardens hopes a grant will keep food on the table.

“For such a small garden, to give us the opportunity to try and be successful with this grant and to meet all the requirements, I’m really proud of that and just, like I said, grateful,” Edwards says.

Farmers receiving benefits from this grant are those who could be facing ethnic or racial prejudice in the area. The agreement ensures that these farmers will receive a steady income from the DCCG from the market price of their produce. Mai Shao’s passion nearly sizzled when a large fire destroyed her warehouse and equipment. But she says the Illinois Eats Program kept it alive.

“It pushed us to a little bit higher upgrade and level which can further assist us to expand our business because it’s harder to survive as a small farm,” Shao says.

The food the DCCG purchases goes to the community at no cost, including food banks, farming collaboratives and other nonprofits. This is a huge win for pantries like the one at Salem Lutheran Church. Director Liz Ezell says they now offer 8 times more perishable foods than before the program.

“That means their grocery carts are much fuller when they leave our pantry. It means they have more bags of food. It means they have more bags of food that will last longer,” Ezell says. “It’s fresh, the dates are great. And much healthier food too.”

The Store at Harvest Chapel’s director Jeff Ikemire describes being at a point where the pantry received very little produce and what they did get, half had to be thrown away. Now, they can provide a family of five fresh, locally sourced food for an entire week. He says unless you’ve faced food insecurity, you don’t know what it’s like for these families.

“We all need each other to get through this life and there are a lot of food pantries in this area, and I know for sure some of them need volunteers,” Ikemire said.

Edwards says the Illinois Eats Program will end in June 2025. But she hopes additions to the Farm bill will extend it.

Dekalb County Community Gardens will host its annual Dinner for Good on Sept. 6. Proceeds will go towards helping the non-profit end county-wide food insecurity.