DeKalb County Community Gardens will travel across the county tomorrow to give away 10,000 pounds of food as part of Giving Tuesday. DCCG works to end hunger throughout the county by giving away food to needy residents. This year, two Grow Mobile vehicles will travel around the county on Tuesday, making stops for distributions.
The gardens are hoping to raise $10,000 in Giving Tuesday donations, which is double the amount they received last year. You can donate to DeKalb County Community Gardens by texting GIVEDCCG to 44321
Per DeKalb County Community Garden Press Release:
DCCG’s 10,000 Pound Food Give-Away: Raising the Bar for 2020 GivingTuesday
DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) will be bringing critical attention to food insecurity in DeKalb County on December 1, as they travel across the county giving away 10,000 pounds of food.
DCCG works to end hunger in DeKalb County 365 days of the year and 2020 has been no exception. In fact, DCCG has been working harder than ever to bring free food to our friends and neighbors including those who are adversely impacted by COVID-19. The costs of bringing free food to the community have more than quadrupled from 2019.
These additional food distributions are a demonstration of their mission to ensure no one goes hungry. Along with the planned food give-aways, DCCG hopes to raise $10,000 in GivingTuesday donations. These goals are doubled from their successful GivingTuesday efforts last year when DCCG gave away over 5,000 pounds of food and raised more than $5,000.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 1, 2020, and throughout the year.
DCCG’s Giving Tuesday itinerary begins with socially distanced Grow Mobile stops at both WLBK and WDKB radio stations to kick-off the day’s events. Monica Becker, host of Monica in the Morning on 94.9 WDKB shared, “I have always admired the hard work and compassion of all those at DeKalb County Community Gardens. I’m further inspired by how they continue to rise to meet the needs of our community during the hardships of this year. If 94.9 WDKB can play even a small role in helping to spread the word a little further to those in need in DeKalb County, we are more than honored to do so.”
Throughout the day, the community can follow DCCG’s day-long food give-away efforts via social media including Facebook and Instagram. To donate to anytime on GivingTuesday, December 1, simply text GIVEDCCG to 44321 or click the Donate button at www.dekalbgardens.org.
This year, DCCG will be taking not one but two Grow Mobiles the road on Giving Tuesday. Taking the wheel in Grow Mobile #1 will be DCCG directors Dan Kenney and Heather Edwards and in Grow Mobile #2 will be Elijah Saucedo (DCCG Community Food Needs Director) and Nathan Dettman (DCCG Lead Grower & Educator). (Throughout the year the Grow Mobiles, DCCG’s mobile food pantries & education centers, are used for community food distributions open and free to all.) Nathan says, “We’ve got 500 food boxes to pack for the distribution. The crew from our Walnut Grove Vocational Farm is helping with this effort and doing a fantastic job!”
Fresh and non-perishable food will be distributed at the following locations:
- Kirkland, Kirkland Food Pantry
- DeKalb, New Suburban Apartments Office, 1400 Twombly Road, 4 to 6pm*
- Genoa, Genoa Area Community Food Hub
- DeKalb, Elder Care Services
- Sandwich, St. Paul the Apostle Parish, 324 W. McKinley Street, 2 pm to 4 PM*
- DeKalb, Safe Passage
- DeKalb, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 Twombly Road, 3 to 5 PM*
- Malta, Malta Historical Society, 127 N. Third Street, 4 to 6 PM*
* Indicates food distribution locations open to the general public.
“I am really excited to participate in an event like Giving Tuesday because it allows DCCG to distribute free food throughout the county all in a day’s work!” shared Elijah Saucedo, DCCG Community Food Needs Director.
For more information about DCCG’s Giving Tuesday events, contact Jackie DiNatale, Communications (815.981.1744 or jdinatale@dekalbgardens.org . For more information about the Grow Mobile program, contact Elijah Saucedo, Community Food Needs Director, at esaucedo@dekalbgardens.org. To view the online Grow Mobile calendar, go to: https://www.dekalbgardens.org/food-needs/
DeKalb County Community Gardens is a local non-profit organization that takes an innovative approach to end hunger and food insecurity in DeKalb County by providing access to healthy, sustainable foods through community education and participation. DCCG works to end hunger in DeKalb County by growing thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce each year for distribution to individuals and families in need.
In August 2020, DCCG reached a major milestone: the distribution of 1,000,000 pounds of food to DeKalb County residents. www.dekalbgardens.org