GardenWorks Project Returns to Ronald McDonald House
The food growing season begins at the Ronald McDonald House® (RMH) near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. In their fourth year of partnership, The GardenWorks
In Dupage County, Illinois, more than 98,000 people face food insecurity. Fresh produce tops the list of most requested items at food pantries. The GardenWorks Project meets this need by bringing gardeners, volunteers, and food pantries together to turn local gardens into a source of fresh, healthy food for our neighbors.
Based in the western suburbs of Chicago for 15 years and counting, the GardenWorks Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit directly addressing the growing need for consistently available, garden-fresh produce for every individual and family in our community.
We don’t just give food away. We grow it together.
Every garden cultivates connection, shared knowledge, and an avenue for long-term food access.
Relying on knowledgeable staff and dedicated volunteers, our approach to addressing food insecurity and building community is multi-faceted. Our programs include:
Our staff and volunteers provide season-long garden
support, education, and resources to individuals and families in Dupage County. These gardens thrive near housing
communities, churches, schools, agencies, and food
pantries.
We encourage and guide local individuals with backyard gardens to “grow-a-row” for donation and/or drop-off surplus to local food pantries. This is made easy through our Fresh Food Connect App.
We build community and culture through bi-weekly “Work and Learn” days for volunteers and groups.
We ensure surplus produce is put to excellent use by connecting our farm partners at nearby markets directly to local food pantries for post-market delivery
We have served our community for 15 years, growing our reach and impact each year.
Our 2026 numbers so far:
178
Garden Beds Planted
22
Locations
55
Community Partners
4,000
Pounds Donated
These stories are the purpose behind the produce. Meet families growing for the first time, pantry guests who found fresh food at the right moment, and volunteers who felt the difference a garden day makes.
The food growing season begins at the Ronald McDonald House® (RMH) near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. In their fourth year of partnership, The GardenWorks
The food growing season begins at the Ronald McDonald House® (RMH) near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. In their fourth year of partnership, The GardenWorks
Everyone has a role in growing food and supporting neighbors.
Matt Tansley is a Land Use Planner with the Kane County Development and Community Services Department. He provides staff support for the implementation of various county long-range and strategic plans, including the Kane County 2040 Plan, the Growing for Kane Report, and the Kane County Food Hub Feasibility Study. He also coordinates the activities of the Kane County Planning Cooperative, an interdepartmental working group of planning practitioners representing the Departments of Development, Health, and Transportation, as well as publishes the group’s monthly newsletter. Matt holds a B.S. in Political Science from Bradley University and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For the past four years, Matt has served as Secretary on The GardenWorks Project’s Board of Directors. Matt can be reached at matt@gardenworksproject.org