CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An annual pancake breakfast to raise money for new bullet-proof vests for Chicago police officers will go on as scheduled, but not as it has in the past.
"Normally, we have several thousand people through the door. This year, it’s going to be different," said 19th Ward Alderman Matt O'Shea.
This year's Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast is Sunday, March 21. For its first six years, the event has been held in Kane Hall at St. John Fisher Church in West Beverly. This year, because of COVID-19, there will be no gathering of thousands.
Instead, the alderman said, "We will be delivering pancakes throughout the 19th Ward community."
People will also have the option to pick up the pancakes and sausage. Cost is $20 for two breakfasts. Ald. O’Shea said more than 300 orders have already been placed.
In the past six years, he says nearly $200,000 has been raised for new police vests, which have to be replaced every few years, because they deteriorate.
Ald. O'Shea said that besides raising money to buy new bullet-proof vests for police, the fundraiser is also a show of support for police who have had a tough year, with many worn down mentally. He said they've worked during the pandemic when most people were staying home, they worked during protests that took place last summer and they've been shot at more than ever.
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"Sadly, in the past week, two officers have taken their own lives. One of those police officers was a resident in my community. This is very personal to me, very personal to my community," Ald. O'Shea said.
The alderman says, "My biggest concern right now as far as their welfare, though, is the mental wellness component. We have to do more."
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He said he believes the police department is making efforts to improve. O'Shea said training has improved and the federal "consent decree has brought some valuable tools to help our police officers to be better public servants. That will prove to be very helpful in the years to come."
Ald. O'Shea said pancakes and sausage will still be prepared at St. John Fisher Church. He said more than 100 people have already volunteered to help deliver breakfasts.
Breakfasts will also be delivered to some of the Gold Star families of police officers, who have been killed in the line of duty.
Breakfasts can be purchased online at www.the19thward.com.
Money raised will benefit the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which purchases new protective vests for police. The CPMF said vests need to be replaced every five years. The Chicago Police Department supplies an officer's vest when she or he first graduates from the Police Academy. After that, replacing the vest is the officer's responsibility.