WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. — A local gardening team was recognized at a recent city event for their role in fighting hunger.
Winnebago County Master Gardeners were awarded the Hunger Champion award at the 2025 Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon. The Hunger Champion award recognizes people and groups that take action in their communities to commit toward ending hunger.
The Master Gardeners were given the award for taking part in Plant a Row for the Hungry in Winnebago County. The nationwide program encourages home gardeners to donate extra food to those in need.
Gardeners who participate in the program take their extra produce to a Plant a Row drop-off site, where the produce is brought to local food pantries. In Winnebago County, the program is led by Master Gardener volunteers and supported by the University of Illinois Extension.
The award was accepted by County Director Margaret Larson and Master Gardeners Barbara Flores, Lorna Carlson, and Karn Mejudhon. They represent hundreds of staff and volunteers who have been involved in the program over many years.
Winnebago County first implemented the Plant a Row program in 2000. Since then, over 250,000 pounds of produce have been donated through drop-off sites, including the Winnebago County Extension office, Edgebrook Farmers Market, and the Cherry Valley Library.
To learn more about the Plant a Row program in Winnebago County, visit the local Illinois Extension online or call the Illinois Extension Winnebago County office at (815) 986-4357.
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