BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:Event to Benefit Maintenance of Organic Garden at Chicago Hom eless Shelter\, Engage Residents\nGlencoe Union Church\, 263 Park Avenue \, Glencoe\, will host a pancake breakfast from 8-11 am on Saturday\, Ma rch 3. \; For a $7 donation\, visitors can enjoy a full\, pancake br eakfast with bacon\, sausage\, juice\, coffee and milk. \; (Children under 5 are free.)\nThe event will be staffed by the church&rsquo\;s yo uth members and Confirmation class\, who will cook\, serve\, and keep th e youngsters busy with garden-themed activities. \; They&rsquo\;ll a lso sell raffle tickets for prizes. \;\nDubbed &ldquo\;Pancakes for Plants\,&rdquo\; the church fundraiser benefits Solid Ground\, a support ive\, residential facility for homeless males 16-21 in Chicago&rsquo\;s Humboldt Park neighborhood. \; The shelter is overseen by parent org anization La Casa Norte\, and many of its residents are Spanish-speaking .\nAccording to Jennifer Wood\, Glencoe Union Church&rsquo\;s director o f Christian education and communications\, the Humboldt Park neighborhoo d is among a number of low-income Chicago communities located within a & ldquo\;food desert.&rdquo\; This means that the neighborhood lacks the f ull-service grocery stores that most communities take for granted.\n&ldq uo\;The lack of full-service grocery stores means that there&rsquo\;s a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables&mdash\;let alone organic fresh fruit s and vegetables&mdash\;for these residents\,&rdquo\; she adds. \;\n For years\, Wood says\, Glencoe Union Church (GUC) has provided financia l support to La Casa Norte\, but wanted to do more. \; She says a sm all church delegation last year made a visit to better acquaint themselv es with La Casa Norte\, Solid Ground and the people being served by this organization.\nThey couldn&rsquo\;t help but notice that several reside nts 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 Pinso f\, \;designed a raised bed garden. Pinsof also oversaw its construc tion and initial planting.\n&ldquo\;The harvest last summer was spectacu lar\,&rdquo\; says Wood. &ldquo\;The Solid Ground residents harvested fr esh strawberries\, two or three varieties of tomatoes\, sweet and hot pe ppers\, and sunflowers for their seeds.&rdquo\; By fall\, Wood adds\, pu mpkins were taking over the patio area.\n&ldquo\;For most of these men\, this is a first-time experience\,&rdquo\; Wood relates. &ldquo\;They&rs quo\;re planting\, maintaining\, harvesting\, and the best part&mdash\;e ating and enjoying the fruits of their labors. \; It has been a succ essful project\,&rdquo\; she says\, &ldquo\;and we&rsquo\;re raising mon ey to continue our work there.&rdquo\; \;\nThe event proceeds will d irectly 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 eve nt.\n&ldquo\;We&rsquo\;re so grateful for the many ways that the Grand F ood Center continues to support our work\,&rdquo\; Wood says. \;\nTo learn more about GUC\, call the church at 847-835-1111\, or visit \ ;www.glencoeunionchurch.org. URL:http://winnetka.patch.com/events/pancake-breakfast-march-3-at-glencoe -union-church SUMMARY:Pancake Breakfast March 3 at Glencoe Union Church LOCATION:Glencoe Union Church: 263 Park Ave\, Glencoe\, IL END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR