BEDS Plus hopes to raise $100,000 with annual Soup and Bread

By Steve Metsch

Tickets are selling fast for the annual Soup and Bread Event fundraiser for BEDS Plus.

BEDS Plus helps vulnerable clients in the southwest suburbs with shelter, housing and supportive services.

The goal is to raise $100,000, Development Director Erin Molek said. That’s a lot of soup, but she is confident some changes to the event will help raise more money.

The event features a wide range of soups from 20 local restaurants and bars.

It will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 4, at the Holiday Inn Countryside, 6201 Joliet Road, Countryside. Organizers will be busy that morning setting up.

Tickets are $25 per person. Children age 8 and under eat for free.

The first 500 get their own soup bowl to take home. Anyone can enjoy as much soup as they want. Rolls are courtesy of the S. Rosen Baking Company.

Children age 8 and under eat for free.

“It’s really nice to be able to be doing it again,” Molek, of La Grange, said.

One change is to the raffle.

They used to raffle off a wide assortment of gift baskets. Those are gone. In its place is a chance to win four special prizes.

“The prizes are really great,” Molek said.

Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100. Here are the raffle items:

A 7-night stay in a deluxe one-bedroom condo at The Grandview in Las Vegas that sleeps four. This is valued at $2,000.

Four nights and five days at a condo in Silverthorne, Colorado, valued at $1,500.

A VIP experience at The Salt Shed, one of the new music venues in Chicago with an overnight hotel stay and a dinner, valued at $1,000.

A Coach purse valued at $350.

Organizers also hope to get donations to BEDS Plus from guests during the event.

“We’ve really expanded our programming and the people we are reaching,” Molek said. “We’re hoping to get monetary donations that will directly affect them.”

“We want people to enjoy themselves, break bread with neighbors and have a hug and a bowl,” she added. “We also have pot holders to put your soup in and out of the microwave.”

She suggests arriving around 4:30 p.m. if buying tickets at the door.

Here is what the 20 vendors are offering:

Antonino’s Ristorante: Minestrone
Beatrix: Vegan pozole
Blackberry Market: Smoky sweet potato
Buck’s Pit Stop: Vegetable beef
Capri Ristorante Italiano: Pasta Fagioli
Country House Restaurant: Chicken noodle
Fourteensixteen: Chicken veloute
Gravylady: Cheese tortellini with parmesan spinach
Irish Times Pub & Restaurant: Corn beef and cabbage
Jameson’s Original Charhouse: Creamy tomato with grilled cheese bites
Jen’s Guesthouse: Cream of chicken and rice
Kama Bistro: Lobster Bisque
Ledo’s Pizza: Broccoli cheddar
Mary’s Morning Mix Up: Cream of roasted jalapeno
Monk’s Burgers & More: Cream of mushroom
Palmer Place: Beef chili
Prasino: Greek egg lemon soup (gluten free)
Stadium Club: Stuffed green pepper
Steak + Vine: Carrot ginger soup (gluten vegan and nut free)
The Works Pizzeria & Tavern: Chicken dumpling

Beer, wine and spirits will be sold.

WhistlePig Whiskey Company is making two signature drinks, Molek said.

Buckle Down, Hop District, Imperial Oak, Tishler’s and Milk Money Brewing will be selling beer. Brew Moon will offer an assortment of craft beers.

There will be live entertainment by Charles and Company on the main state. They play Motown, classic rock, swing, blues, reggae and songs from the ‘50s.

Crows of Furey, an acoustic duo, and guitarist Mark Dvorak will perform in the Terrace Room.

A magician named Marko will be roaming around to amaze visitors.

Soup and Bread tickets will be available at the door, but you can also buy them on-line, along with the raffle tickets

And when they leave, each guest gets a pot holder provided by Marquette Bank.

New this year is a “staycation” at the hotel.

It is a discounted $119 rate for a family of four to stay over Saturday night, with access to the pool and facilities, and a later checkout Sunday. Event tickets are not included.

Last year, BEDS Plus served 2,494 people experiencing homelessness and imminent risk of homelessness, 11% more than in 2022. They launched a Triage Shelter for people experiencing homelessness including newly arrived immigrants; opened the Summit Service Center which houses their Medical Respite program, a Daytime Support Center and Emergency Service Connections; and reopened a service office in the south suburbs.