For most, the weeks between the end of November and December are the most wonderful time of the year.
But the St. Joseph Women’s Club knows that every year there are members of their community who could use an extra boost in holiday cheer.
2020 presented new challenges for everyone, especially those in the restaurant industry.
The women saw how hard-hit employers and employees were during the first stay-at-home order in the late spring months. Seeing COVID-19 cases rise both statewide and regionally, the group began to talk about what they could do to help those workers over the holiday months.
Although they did not want to see indoor dining taken away again, Illinois entered into Tier 3 mitigations right just weeks before the Thanksgiving weekend.
After reading about how a manager at a local restaurant was concerned about her employees, Club President Brooks Bennett-Miller suggested that this year the Women’s Club provide baskets to waiters and kitchen staff as a way to help them during the time where they may not be getting paid or are not getting tips.
Once approved, the group formed a committee to deliver baskets of food to about 20 employees in St. Joseph. The basket included items that could be used for weeks to come: a frozen pizza, a frozen lasagna, peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread, a couple cans of vegetables and a ham.
Included was this message: “We recognize the burden placed on restaurants with the ever-changing COVID rules. Reduced hours and reduced tips are coming at a difficult time. We hope this care package lifts your spirits and reminds you that others recognize the strain that all dine-in restaurants must be feeling. In other words, we see you and we care!”
Bennett-Miller said the group of women that meets every month just wants to help where they can.
“We’re always doing something new to try to help the community,” she said.
The group hopes to continue to help local restaurants in the coming weeks. The Women’s Club will soon ask St. Joseph residents to post a photo of their Christmas tree. Those trees will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card to a local establishment.
“Everything we do is about helping the community…whether it’s businesses, usually it’s individuals, but this year we’re kind of focusing on the businesses because of the restaurants being shut down,” she said.
But that doesn’t mean that the women have forgotten about the children in the community.
In the spring of 2020, the club knew that they could meet an immediate need in helping to provide food for students.
“We worked with the school and provided 50 families on the free-and-reduced lunch program with a basket of extra basket of food besides that they’re picking up from the school for lunch each week,” she said.
This Christmas, they will also host their annual Angel Tree, taking donations of toys for boys and girls of all ages so that everyone has something under their tree come Christmas Day.
Anyone who wants to help purchase a gift can visit the St. Joseph Apothecary to pick up an ornament with a need written on it. The unwrapped gift can be placed back under the tree before 1 p.m. on Dec. 12 when the Women’s Club and the St. Joseph Church of Christ will pick-up the gifts.
Usually, the Women’s Club asks local businesses to help cover the cost of a meal and pajamas for each family who asks for help. But in 2020, the group is taking on the cost themselves.
Bennett-Miller said the group is excited to see that people are willing to step and and do a little more to make this year special.
“There’s still plenty of people that are able to buy gifts this year, and some people are even doing so more ,” she said. “We’ve had more people reach out that want to help, because they see there’s a need.”
Each year the club needs help meeting those needs. With fundraisers like “Vegas Night” three years ago and “Glo Bingo” early this year, the club has been able to raise enough money to fill needs as they arise.
“It’s all about being able to help people,” she said. “If you’re a community organization wanting to help and you don’t have money, you can’t help.”
In many instances, that help goes far beyond what meets the eye.
When the Women’s Club found out that there were bright St. Joseph-Ogden students who were going through the rigor of AP classes, but unable to afford the test, they stepped up to the plate, covering the cost so those students could have opportunities in college.
The group also helps to pay off the negative lunch balance for high school students so that they can get a meal in the middle of the day.
With mitigations in place for the time being, the St. Joseph Women’s Club is searching for ways to raise funds to continue their work. They are also inviting women in the St. Joseph community to join their efforts.
The club meets on the first Monday of each month at 7pm at the St. Joseph Municipal Building, 207 E. Lincoln.
