(Chicago, IL, January 23, 2012) - A new partnership will assist establishment of an organic community garden in the 8th Ward. Alderman Michelle Harris (8th) will be joining with Growing Home and the Chiditarod to help local residents pursue community development, job training and urban agriculture in the Cottage Grove Heights neighborhood.

The Chiditarod, now in its 7th year, is a shopping cart race modeled on the Alaskan Iditarod. One of several “Urban Iditarods” around the country, only the Chiditarod doubles as a food drive. Racing teams of five people decorate their carts and design costumes on themes of their choices. Each team includes four pullers and one musher. They are required to arrive at the finish line with a cart full of food for donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

In recent years, teams have voluntarily collected cash donations. Race organizers were stunned in 2011 when they totaled $18,000. All of the money was given to the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation. This year, they are giving collected money to local charities addressing hunger and "food desert" issues.

"Alderman Harris has helped us identify land where residents have established gardens in the past, but where a more sustained commitment will help neighbors realize the potential of this work," said Chiditarod founder Devin Breen. "By working with the alderman and Growing Home, we get to meet the people we are assisting. The reward is not just a warm feeling, but the larger value of making friends and being good neighbors, and addressing real challenges in our city."

Growing Home is a not-for-profit organization committed to using organic agriculture to provide community development and transitional employment and job training to Chicagoans who have multiple barriers to employment, such has having been previously homeless or incarcerated. In 2011, Growing Home’s Wood Street Urban Farm grew and sold over 13,000 pounds of local, USDA Certified Organic produce, with over $50,000 in earned income.

"Bringing this effort—and this well established organization—to our ward is beneficial on several levels," said the alderman. "It's a positive job training program. It engages neighbors in the Cottage Grove Heights community, and it illustrates what people can do beyond these gardens to grow food for their tables, and for each other. Everybody wins," she said.

Race organizers cannot predict how much money will be raised.

"If we raise enough, we will be able to donate to several food related charities—and we will only choose those with good track records, local engagements and demonstrated high standards," said Breen.

If there is not sufficient money to mount an immediate effort in the 8th ward, the partnership will continue. Growing Home will still be the recipient charity, with the money held aside until a sufficient amount is collected.

Harry Rhodes, Growing Home’s Executive Director said, "We are excited to be involved in this campaign that not only provides immediate relief to the hungry, but also has a long-term impact on increasing access to healthy vegetables in Chicago neighborhoods."

Anyone interested in donating or being a part of the community garden is invited to call Alderman Michelle Harris’s office at 773-874-3300.