Pancake Breakfast March 3 at Glencoe Union Church

Event to Benefit Maintenance of Organic Garden at Chicago Homeless Shelter, Engage Residents

Glencoe Union Church, 263 Park Avenue, Glencoe, will host a pancake breakfast from 8-11 am on Saturday, March 3.  For a $7 donation, visitors can enjoy a full, pancake breakfast with bacon, sausage, juice, coffee and milk.  (Children under 5 are free.)

The event will be staffed by the church’s youth members and Confirmation class, who will cook, serve, and keep the youngsters busy with garden-themed activities.  They’ll also sell raffle tickets for prizes. 

Dubbed “Pancakes for Plants,” the church fundraiser benefits Solid Ground, a supportive, residential facility for homeless males 16-21 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.  The shelter is overseen by parent organization La Casa Norte, and many of its residents are Spanish-speaking.

According to Jennifer Wood, Glencoe Union Church’s director of Christian education and communications, the Humboldt Park neighborhood is among a number of low-income Chicago communities located within a “food desert.” This means that the neighborhood lacks the full-service grocery stores that most communities take for granted.

“The lack of full-service grocery stores means that there’s a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables—let alone organic fresh fruits and vegetables—for these residents,” she adds. 

For years, Wood says, Glencoe Union Church (GUC) has provided financial support to La Casa Norte, but wanted to do more.  She says a small church delegation last year made a visit to better acquaint themselves with La Casa Norte, Solid Ground and the people being served by this organization.

They couldn’t help but notice that several residents there were trying to grow tomatoes in plastic buckets on their back patio. Lucky for them, GUC member Kathy Deveny became inspired, and with the help  from The Organic Gardener, Jeannie Pinsof, designed a raised bed garden. Pinsof also oversaw its construction and initial planting.

“The harvest last summer was spectacular,” says Wood. “The Solid Ground residents harvested fresh strawberries, two or three varieties of tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and sunflowers for their seeds.” By fall, Wood adds, pumpkins were taking over the patio area.

“For most of these men, this is a first-time experience,” Wood relates. “They’re planting, maintaining, harvesting, and the best part—eating and enjoying the fruits of their labors.  It has been a successful project,” she says, “and we’re raising money to continue our work there.” 

The event proceeds will directly fund re-planting, maintenance, and an educational program for Solid Ground residents.  The Grand Food Center, with stores in Glencoe and Winnetka, will provide the bacon and sausage at the event.

“We’re so grateful for the many ways that the Grand Food Center continues to support our work,” Wood says. 

To learn more about GUC, call the church at 847-835-1111, or visit www.glencoeunionchurch.org.