CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Urban growers gathered in Englewood this weekend in the hopes of alleviating some of the holiday stress for local families at the second annual Share the Love Englewood Winterfest.
“We’re giving away books, toys and Subway gift cards,” said Nate, a part-time director for Wood St. Collective, which was one of multiple neighborhood farming groups that participated in the event.
The festival took place on Englewood’s “Peace Block,” which is located on South Honore Street near 64th Street. In 2022, the inaugural Share the Love event — organized by Imagine Englewood If, Growing Home and We Grow Chicago — provided holiday gifts for more than 450 children in the greater Englewood community.
This year, Growing Home Executive Director Janelle St. John said the holiday event included “fun activities, but also some practical things.”
“We have winter gear for adults and children … it includes coats, boots, gloves, hats, the full shebang,” St. John said. “There’s also hygiene items, food box giveaways, cooked meal by Grow Greater Englewood, hot chocolate, Santa Claus — a big evening of celebration and different items.”
The fresh produce items included in the food box, she added, were hand-picked for the season.
“It’s very Christmas,” said St. John. “You have the sweet potatoes, the broccoli, the red apples, collard greens, kale, yellow onions. These are the things that we think that the average, culturally competent meal for the season will include.”
More information about the Share the Love Englewood Winterfest can be found here.
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