Annual Soup and Bread Event to raise money for BEDS Plus organization

About 20 local and independent restaurants and caterers will be on hand ladling out tasty concoctions such a French inspired cream and cognac onion soup, as well as old standbys such as lobster bisque or chicken dumpling all to raise money to end homelessness in southwestern suburban Cook County.

The family-friendly 13th Annual Soup and Bread Event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Holiday Inn Countryside, 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside to benefit BEDS Plus, a local nonprofit committed to ending homelessness.

One of the participants, Blackberry Market, a fast causal café with locations in La Grange, Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Oak Brook will feature its smokey sweet potato soup for the second year in a row.

Patrice Meyer, culinary director of Blackberry Market, said the soup is so popular because despite its smooth and creamy texture, it is “a vegan soup” made with coconut milk, shallots and smoked paprika.

“It is such a fun event,” she added, noting the friendly banter between the different restaurants and their soup creations.

In addition to sipping soups, guests can enjoy bread, dessert, craft beers, wines and specialty cocktails.

The event includes entertainment, activities for children and a silent auction.

Mark Rudzinski, BEDS Plus board president, said the event is held specifically to raise money for the organization’s emergency services and interim and transitional housing programs.

First volunteering more than a decade ago, Rudzinski said at that time “BEDS was primarily overnight shelters across churches.”

In that time, that the nonprofit has gone through a “transformation,” he said..

“There is no one path that leads to homelessness,” Rudzinski said.

Therefore, he added, “You can’t take a one size fits most approach to dealing with it.”

Working with churches to temporarily house the homeless overnight was effective, Rudzinski said.

“It put a roof over people’s heads overnight and gave them two meals. However, at 7 a.m. they were out on the street again and would have to go to the next church on the next night,” he added.

The genesis of BEDS Plus today came about because members of local church congregations got together and brainstormed what they could do to create long-term solutions, Rudzinski said.

The organization has grown substantially in both facilities and the number of people the organization serves.

In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, BEDS Plus served 3,320 clients including more than 1,000 children through proving housing and supportive services.

“We started to build specific programs tied to the needs of specific individuals who are struggling with homelessness,” Rudzinski said.

In early 2023, BEDS Plus opened an emergency respite shelter, the Linda Sokol Francis Summit Service Center, which has 18 beds for people experiencing homelessness and a medical condition.

In addition, BEDS Plus has targeted new program for homeless youth between the ages 18 and 24 that provides extended transitional housing, case management and connections to supportive services.

BEDS Plus also is in process of acquiring a motel on Cicero Avenue that will be “gutted and rehabbed” into a triage center, he added.

From there, Rudzinski said, the nonprofit will work to get the homeless individuals on a track “to ultimately get them in a positive housing situation.”

Other Soup and Bread Event participating restaurants include Antonino’s Ristorante, Beach Avenue Barbeque, Buck’s Pit Stop, Capri, Chi Tung, Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café, Fourteensixteen, Gravylady, Happier Now Café, HMD Bar and Grill, Irish Times Pub, Kama Bistro, Krispies Sweet & Savory Shoppe, Ledo’s Pizza, Mana, Marco’s Kitchen, Mary’s Morning Mix Up, Prasino, Steak & Vine, The Stadium Club, and The Works Pizzeria & Tavern.

Tickets for the event are $30 per person which includes a ceramic soup mug and may be purchased at https://www.classy.org/event/beds-plus-soup-and-bread-2025/e647684