DuPage County is recognized for its support of the expansion of the Loaves and Fishes Community Services Food Distribution Hub located at 580 Exchange Court in Aurora. After opening in October 2021, the food distribution center later was named to honor early volunteer Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski in 2023. Note five years later, as depicted in the rendering below, the facility is more than doubling its size to fill the needs of the communities served. (PN File Photo)
DuPage County Report
Wheaton – DuPage County received two 2026 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), recognizing the Crisis Recovery Center in the health category and the County’s comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity in the human services category. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
“I’m incredibly proud of the community collaboration that led to the creation of these outstanding County initiatives which are already greatly benefitting our residents,” said DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy. “Receiving national accolades for this type of innovation reinforces our commitment to the notion that local government can be fiscally responsible while developing programs that help people and answer critical needs in our community.”
DuPage County’s Crisis Recovery Center (CRC) provides 24/7 crisis assessment and stabilization services by crisis counselors and a multidisciplinary team for those experiencing mental health or substance use crises. NACo recognized the CRC for providing these critical services for both youth and adults. Individuals receive a behavioral health assessment and any needed stabilization services for up to 24 hours.
DuPage County also received recognition for its comprehensive initiative addressing food insecurity. The $6.8 million program combines strategic investments and partnerships that strengthen the local food assistance network.
In March 2026, the County Board allocated $2.5 million to Loaves & Fishes Community Services to expand the agency’s Aurora Food Distribution Hub, $2 million to the Northern Illinois Food Bank to provide fresh produce and other essential commodities to local pantries, and $322,000 to The Conservation Foundation to expand its Farm to Pantry Program.
The initiative also set aside $2 million to fund a Food Pantry Challenge Grant program seeking applications demonstrating collaboration among government, non-profits, and private philanthropic partners as they propose projects intended to create lasting change and improvements in the food distribution system.
National Association of Counties Achievement Awards
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.
Report submitted by Evan Shields, Communications and Programs Manager, DuPage County Board
