In November 2004, Monarch Awards Foundation members served a hot lunch to Englewood Community residents at Beautiful Zion M.B. Church in honor of Thanksgiving. Over the years, our giving evolved from 90 paper bags of groceries, a long time partnership with the Beautiful Zion M.B. Church’s food pantry, and now providing food baskets to select donation recipients.
The 20th Annual Community Feeding began when fresh fruits and vegetables were received and 1500 food bags were packed by our members on Friday, November 22nd.
A reception and program was held on Saturday, November 23rd, to honor nine donation recipients which included Chicago Police Department-District 007 (Englewood); 16th Ward Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman; 17th Ward Alderman David Moore; Beautiful Zion M.B. Church; Greater Walters A.M.E. Zion Church; Mont Clare Seniors; The Crusher Club; The Montessori School of Englewood; and United African Organization. Our sponsors Aetna, Beautiful Zion, Kimball and Karen Anderson ,Love Tito’s, Mariano’s, P.U.A. Properties and Winston for Good, The Desideri Family, and the Taylor Family and over 40 donors provided financial and operational support to ensure families in Chicago’s Englewood and surrounding communities received food baskets for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Guest speakers included Bishop Shirley Coleman, former 16th Ward Alderman who served when the Annual Community Feeding began in 2004; Chicago Police Captain Darwin Butler—District 007 Englewood; Chicago Police Commander Arleseuia Watson-Ford; 16th Ward Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman; 17th Ward Alderman David Moore, and Rev. Ricky Dixon, Pastor Beautiful Zion M.B. Church. Entertainment was provided by members of Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble.
Special deliveries were made to over 88 residents at the Mont Clare Seniors Building located at 6332 S. Green during our 20th Annual Community Feeding. We also provided a monthly 12-month Dion’s Chicago Dream food box subscription to 10 senior residents at Mont Clare to celebrate our 20th Annual Community Feeding.
Purchases of 105 food boxes from Dion’s Chicago Dream and 400 packs of dinner rolls from Ma’s Best were also distributed to select donation recipients.
We acknowledge and thank our volunteers— Illinois National Guard Recruiter Sergeant First Class Kenneth T. McCall and Illinois National Guard-Kankakee, IL; Men Run Deez Street and Black Chicago Runners, Gwendolyn Brooks National Honor Society, and Beautiful Zion’s Volunteer Ministry.
Take a look at this milestone event below!
Commentaires