Chicago Community Gardens To Serve Food Banks

The Garden Writers, Plant A Row for the Hungry and the GroGood Partnership conclude a national five-city campaign Saturday promoting vegetable and community gardening with installation and dedication of new community gardens at Chicago’s Clarendon Park.

The new garden plots will be tended by area residents and youth organizations to grow food to donate to local food agencies.

More than 500,000 Chicago-area residents rely on local food banks to provide food for their meals. And with a 32 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance in Chicago alone, the Garden Writers Association, ScottsMiracle-Gro and its philanthropic partners Keep America Beautiful, Keep Chicago Beautiful and the Chicago Park District are teaming up on the national GroGood gardening program to encourage community members of all ages to grow and donate fresh produce to local food agencies.