Baby Hope: Garden Planted By Non-Violent Offenders To Honor Abandoned Child

WINFIELD, IL — Nearly a year after Baby Hope's body was found in the woods near unincorporated Wheaton, a garden has been planted in honor of her memory. The fruits and vegetables grown in the garden will be used to provide food for residents in need throughout the area.

The garden is a result of a joint effort by the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and John Dusza. Winfield Township Highway Commissioner. A Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office said that Commissioner Dusza donated the land for the garden at the Winfield Highway Department.

The fruit and vegetables in Hope's Garden were planted and will be maintained by members of the Sheriff's Work Alternative Program, which allows non-violent misdemeanor offenders to perform supervised manual labor instead of serving time in jail. Each item harvested from Hope's Garden will be donated to local food pantries to give community members in need access to fresh food, according to the Facebook post.

When ground was broken to plant the first seeds of Hope's Garden, Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano said, "“We are honored and privileged to be able to keep Baby Hope’s memory alive through her garden. Baby Hope and her legacy won’t be marred by her death, but instead will be positive and life changing to others in need,” the Facebook post said.

Police are still investigating Baby Hope's death and trying to track down her parents. The Sheriff's Office urges anyone with information about Baby Hope’s death or her parents' identities to call the DuPage County Sheriff's Office at 630-407-2400.

>>Image via Facebook, DuPage County Sheriff's Office