Dr. Rod Gardin is a licensed mental health counselor who practices in Valparaiso, Indiana. Along with his wife, he also leads Butter & Grace, LLC, which operates a food trailer and hot dog cart and feeds homeless people in the local community. Dr. Rod Gardin launched his food business in 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He coordinated with organizations such as the Greater Northwest Indiana Food Bank in delivering tens of thousands of meals to students across the local region.

Dr. Gardin holds licenses in mental health and clinical addictions counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. Over the years, he has provided meaningful assistance for those suffering from grief and traumatic experiences. In addition to performing mental status exams and intake assessments, he has co-facilitated therapy sessions focused on issues such as adjustment disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and relationship distress.

Dr. Gardin has been successful in securing Youth Mental Health First Aid Training grants that enabled and empowered institutional employees to recognize situations of emotional and mental distress. A culinary enthusiast, he enjoys creating new items for the food trailer menu. He also regularly volunteers at a men’s shelter.

Rod Gardin