Neighborhood Supports 'Get Behind The Vest' This Week

CHICAGO — While backing the blue is a year-long love for the residents of 19th Ward neighborhoods Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park, there will be a special emphasis this week on helping protect the many police officers who live here and in all parts of the city.

All this week, 25 cents for every dollar of gas pumped at the Kean Gas Station, 2632 W. 111th St. will be donated to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Get Behind the Vest program, which raises funds to replace bullet proof vests for Chicago Police officers.

Then, on Sunday, 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea will host a pancake breakfast that will raise even more money for the effort.

Neighborhood support of Get Behind the Vest in mid-February goes back five years, and in that time has raised more than $17,000.

The Kean family has joined AthleteX, Beverly Bank & Trust, Alliant and an anonymous donor in donating five cents apiece per every dollar of gas purchased through the end of the day on Saturday, Feb. 23.

O'Shea will pump gas for customers at the city's only full-service gas station from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday.

“A number of officers from the Chicago Police Department were killed in the line of duty in the last year, and now more than ever, we need to do all that we can to make sure our officers are given the tools they need to return home to their families at the end of their shifts,” the alderman said.

“The 19th Ward is home to hundreds of active and retired Chicago Police officers, and we understand the danger these men and women of the Chicago Police Department face each day. Through the tremendous support of the community, schools, and local businesses such as Original Pancake House – Beverly and Kean Gas Station, we want to help in protecting those who protect us.”

RELATED: 10,000 Pancakes Served At 2018 'Get Behind The Vest' Fundraiser

St. John Fisher School will again host the pancake breakfast, set for 8 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Feb. 24. The school is located at 10200 S. Washtenaw Ave. in the West Beverly neighborhood.

Admission is $5 per person or $25 for families.

Patch file photo / Tim Moran