The Village of New Lenox held its annual “Last Call Before Fall” event at the Village Commons on Sept. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Residents celebrated the end of summer with live music, outdoor games, craft breweries and soup from local restaurants.
Two bands, the Crosstown Classics and Coverlicious, performed at the Performing Arts Pavilion throughout the afternoon. Several local breweries offered beverages for $5, and the public library raffled off a new Kindle for those that applied for a library card. The event also included pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses and pumpkin decorating.
Each year, the village partners with Empty Bowls to run a fundraiser in support of the New Lenox Township Food Pantry. Empty Bowls is an international project that works to increase awareness of world hunger, unite community members and raise money to support those with food insecurity.
For this fundraiser, those who donated $20 received a handmade ceramic bowl made by students and staff from the New Lenox school district and unlimited soup samples donated by local restaurants, including cream of chicken and rice, three different versions of chili, minestrone, lobster bisque, broccoli cheddar, beef and barley, pasta fagioli and lemon rice.
The event was organized by the New Lenox Friends of the Parks. Mark Ott, a commissioner for the New Lenox Park District, has volunteered to serve soup for the last three years. “My favorite part is seeing the community happy and full,” he says. “It’s really wonderful to watch everyone come together and donate towards this cause.”
This year over 200 bowls were sold despite the blazing sun and high temperatures. Jen Ruhl, sixth grade teacher and the project’s coordinator, hopes to write a $3,000 check to the New Lenox Township Food Pantry with the proceeds. She said in recent years the “energy has only heightened.”
“Everyone is so enthusiastic and committed to the cause,” she said.
Fred and Liz Manzi have attended the event before. “We have loved to see it grow,” said Liz Manzi. “It’s become a family staple during the last couple of years and we hope to see it continue for many more.”
Next year, Ruhl would love to place an even bigger emphasis on student participation from the local New Lenox grade schools. “Overall, the event was a success,” she said, “but I also can’t wait to see where the future takes us.”