Help support the Donation Garden!

The DeKalb Donation Garden grows fresh produce for local pantries while offering NIU students and community members hands-on gardening experience.

In 2012, the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Donation Garden took root with a simple mission: grow food for neighbors in one of DeKalb’s most food-insecure areas. What began as a small church garden has since become a vital source of fresh produce and a hands-on classroom for food justice. Expanded in 2017 as a Master Gardener site and, in 2022, as a living laboratory with NIU’s Environmental Studies program, the garden now fights hunger while teaching the next generation how to build a sustainable future. Each season, we donate harvests to local food pantries and teach regenerative gardening to community members. Today, our impact is amplified by the Justice and Sustainability Association (JASA), Plant Futures (NIU Chapter), and students in ENVS 210 who put lessons into practice in the soil. With your support, we will grow more food, train more students, and strengthen community partnerships to build a more just and sustainable food system for DeKalb. 

Budget Breakdown:

• Student Internships: $1,600 - Provides stipends for four NIU student interns. Interns will coordinate volunteers, assist with planting and harvesting, and strengthen partnerships between NIU, local churches, and the DeKalb community. 
• Garden Supplies & Maintenance: $800 - Seeds, compost, soil, tools, fencing, seasonal inputs. Ensures we can maintain a productive, regenerative garden across the growing season. 
• Hoop Houses and Season Extension: $700 - Materials to build protective hoop houses. Extends the growing season, increases yields, and ensures steady food pantry donations. 
• Irrigation System: $500 - Drip lines, hoses, and timers. Improves water efficiency, reduces waste, and ensures consistent watering for healthier crops. 
• Greenhouse Fund: $400 - Initial investment toward materials for a small greenhouse. Supports seed starting, student workshops, and expanded year-round growing capacity.