La Grange, IL – December 18, 2024 – Area restaurants will be ladling up bowls of hope as the community comes together for a greater purpose at the 13th annual Soup & Bread fundraiser on Sunday, February 2. The event combines food, music and generosity to support BEDS Plus, a nonprofit dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs stabilize their lives through housing and supportive services.
Hundreds will gather from 3pm – 7pm at the Holiday Inn West Banquets, 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside, for a family-friendly event featuring 20 savory soups prepared and donated by independent restaurants across the southwest suburbs. From exotic flavors like Cream & Cognac Onion Soup with Gruyere Cheese or Lobster Bisque, to hearty classics like Chili or Corned Beef & Cabbage, there will be warm soups to satisfy every taste.
Some participating restaurants include:
- Antonino’s Ristorante, La Grange
- Blackberry Market, La Grange
- Buck’s Pit Stop, Hodgkins
- Chi Tung, Evergreen Park
- Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café, Burbank
- Fourteensixteen, La Grange
- Happier Now Café, La Grange Park
- Irish Times Pub, Brookfield
- Kama Bistro, La Grange
- Ledo’s Pizza, Countryside
- Mana, La Grange
- Marco’s Kitchen, La Grange
- Prasino, La Grange
- Stadium Club, McCook
- Steak & Vine, La Grange
Guests will also enjoy live performances by The Vaughn Building, The August James Band, Crows of Furey and an open mic jam session. Craft beers, wines and specialty cocktails, donated by local breweries and distilleries, will also be available alongside fresh bread and desserts.
For families, kid-friendly activities will provide fun and entertainment for children of all ages.
“Our Soup & Bread fundraiser is a powerful example of the change we can create when we come together as a community,” said Tina Rounds, Chief Executive Officer of BEDS Plus. “Sharing a meal not only fosters connection and compassion but also directly supports essential housing and support services for our neighbors in need. Together, we can make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.”
Unsheltered Point-In-Time Count
This event follows the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, taking place on Wednesday, January 29 when volunteers, coordinated by the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, will canvass the streets in small groups and attempt to count every person experiencing homelessness. These efforts help secure federal funding for homelessness programs, establish benchmarks for future initiatives, and increase awareness of housing challenges in our communities.
Soup & Bread Event Details
The 2025 Soup & Bread is presented by Linda Sokol Francis E.A., with the support of local businesses committed to helping the homeless stay warm and safe year-round. Other sponsors include Marquette Bank; Rockpile Strategies; Lyons Township Mental Health Commission; C.J. Erickson Plumbing; Stantec; Burger Night Out; Towers Racing and First National Bank of Brookfield.
- Tickets: $30 per person (including a ceramic soup mug); ages 8 and under free.
- Proceeds: directly benefit BEDS Plus programs
- Further Information: Erin Molek, Development Manager at molek@beds-plus.org or 708-354-0858.
About BEDS Plus
BEDS Plus works to stabilize lives in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago by providing housing solutions and supportive services to individuals and families facing homelessness. According to the National Interagency Council on Homelessness, more than half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and one crisis away from homelessness. Since 1988, BEDS Plus has been providing prevention assistance in the form of rental arrears, utility and mortgage assistance. Last year, the agency distributed just under $1M of support to the community.
Media Contact: Nancy Cummings
CUMMINGS MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS
708-522-6467
nancy@cummingsmarketing.com