Staff at Shorewood nursing home prepared meals for tornado victims

When a devastating tornado swept through Coal City in 2015, the chef at Alden Estates of Shorewood Rehabilitation and Health Care Center headed down to prepare meals.

So it felt natural to Stephanie Popp, the center’s administrator, that Alden Estates of Shorewood get involved again when a tornado touched down on Father’s Day in the in the areas of Naperville, Darien and Woodridge.

Popp’s desire was intensified after she scrolled through photos of the tornado damage on social media.

“I got ahold of our chef that night and he said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Popp said.

In 2015, the chef at the time had thawed turkeys that were left over from the freezer and prepared meals. But the process wouldn’t be so simple for Zachary Ward, the current executive chef.

“I got in touch with the American Red Cross and said we wanted to do some dinners to help the effort,” Popp said. “But they needed lunch for the people that they promised to feed that day.”

Popp said the Red Cross representative said, “If you could get lunch prepared and delivered by 12:30, we would be very grateful.”

Of course, Popp agreed. But it was already 9:30 a.m. The center was in Shorewood. The lunches had to go to Woodridge.

Moreover, Ward was extra busy that week. In addition to feeding 80 residents, he was preparing lunch for 50 staff members, due to a training the center was holding for its nurses and the fact the center was honoring its certified nurse assistants that week.

But Ward was totally onboard.

“Our family will be welcoming our first child this fall and I immediately thought of families that will have to rebuild their lives because of this,” Ward said in a news release from the center. “I just wanted to do something that would provide some sort of support.”

Ward prepared 50 BLT sandwiches and homemade chocolate chip cookies, Popp said.

“We delivered the meals to Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Woodridge right on time where the American Red Cross has set up a shelter,” Popp said in the release. “They were very appreciative and thankful as they rely highly on community members to come together during times like these and help in any way they can.”

For more information, call 815-230-8700 or visit thealdennetwork.com.