Helping our community thrive

Our Mission:
Rooted For Good empowers people to access healthy and sustainably grown foods and addresses the root causes of hunger.

Our mission:

Rooted for Good empowers people to access healthy and sustainably grown foods and addresses the root causes of hunger.

What We Do

How You Can Help

Since our founding, we have distributed more than 2 million pounds of food to people in need.

Our food, community, and job training programs combined make a real difference in the lives of tens of thousands of our neighbors right here in northern Illinois.

To keep making that difference—and to continue to grow and expand—we need your help.

Share your harvest

Donate your garden’s extra produce to Rooted For Good! To make a produce donation, contact us at info@dekalbgardens.org.

Become a donor

Click the button below to make a one-time or recurring donation.

Donate

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Our History

2012

DeKalb County Community Gardens founded by Dan Kenney, with the first garden at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School
Gardens soon followed at Conexión Comunidad, and Dolce Vita Salon/KishHealth System

2013

Designated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit
First Local Flavors Harvest Dinner held
Gardens planted at all DeKalb District 428 elementary schools

2014

Additional gardens established, including at the Sycamore and Kirkland Public Libraries, Northern Illinois University, Sycamore District 427 elementary schools, low-income housing areas, and local senior centers

2015

DCCG leases land for Walnut Grove Vocational Farm
Prairie restoration project begins
First Community Seed Exchange held
Plans for a regional food hub shared with the community
Additional gardens established

2016

Walnut Grove Vocational Farm training program established
DCCG awarded a grant to establish the Grow Mobile
DCCG takes over management of rental gardens in DeKalb and establishes rental gardens in Genoa
Community Seed Libraries started at DeKalb and Sycamore Public Libraries

2017

DCCG rebrands with a new logo and website
Rental gardens established in Sycamore
Grow Mobile popup food pantries roll out

2018

Walnut Grove Vocational Farm makes its first successful job placements, placing participants at Klein’s Quality Produce in Burlington
IDEAL Industries provides warehouse space for DCCG

2019

Anonymous donor proposes the idea of a Genoa Area Community Food Hub
DCCG moves into its current warehouse and office space, made possible by Northern Illinois University
DeKalb District 428 sponsors the hire of a School Garden Coordinator to teach elementary school students at all schools

2020

The Gracie Center merges with Walnut Grove Vocational Farm
Genoa Area Community Food Hub opens
Curriculum Offerings Guide created for DeKalb District 428 elementary schools
Popup food pantries increase in response to COVID-19
Elder Care secures funds for DCCG to deliver food to homebound neighbors in partnership with Family Service Agency and Voluntary Action Center
Second Grow Mobile launches

2022

Genoa-Kingston school district food pantry launches the “CogsMart”

2023

Site acquired for a regional food hub in DeKalb

2024

DCCG rebrands as Rooted For Good

Board of Directors

President: Andrew Wanek
Vice President: Sean Walters
Treasurer: Paul Stoddard
Secretary: Janet Hunt

David Castro
Diane Elliott
Mario Gomez
Joyce Klein
Pat Maloney
Sheryl Nakonechny
Ellingsworth Webb