DeKALB – The DeKalb Community Gardens will have their Grow Mobile Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N Annie Glidden Rd, to give free boxes of food to those that need it.

Grow Mobile is a program administered by DeKalb Community Gardens to bring fresh food into the food deserts of DeKalb County, according to the DeKalb Community Gardens website.

The Grow Mobile events have been taking place multiple times per week and across various areas since 2016, said Jackie BiNatale, Communications Director for DeKalb Community Gardens.

Due to the colder weather and current lack of fresh produce, DeKalb Community Gardens has partnered with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to get non-perishable products to those that need them, BiNatale said. When the growing season for produce begins, more fresh produce will be available.

“We sometimes get fresh produce, milk and even meat,” BiNatale said. “But these are rarer.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be a drive through event with masks being required, BiNatale said. Before the pandemic, the event used to be more open where people could spend more time looking at products.

The Grow Mobile event will be one of twelve throughout the month of March, according to the Grow Mobile calendar provided by DeKalb Community Gardens. This week, Grow Mobile will also be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at University Village Apartments, 722 N Annie Glidden Rd.