Fall Luncheon and Fundraiser - November 13th, 2025

Our Annual Fall Luncheon and Fundraiser was a great success with The Basket Raffles. Big board, a Silent Auction, and Bake Sales. This year we had the addition of a 50/50 raffle with the proceeds going to our scholarship fund! We had a record of 198 in attendance.

Our banquet tables were decorated with a beautiful holiday-themed arrangement by Lana and Rich Gernady 🎄

We were honored to recognize our VIP of the day Irma Lehmann for her 44 years of active membership and all her many , many contributions to our Garden Club.

The Community Backpack Project (CBP) received a generous donation from the Des Plaines Garden Club this week. 

Pictured at the club's holiday luncheon are (l to r) club representative Mary Peglow and CBP coordinator Jana Haas. The Garden Club has donated a total of $3,400 to the CBP this year, in support of District 6

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The Community Backpack Project (CBP) is an outreach program of the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Elementary students in Community Consolidated School District 62 who are in need can take home a backpack full of food to last through the weekend. These are students who participate in the free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch program at school during the week.

How CBP Works

School social workers communicate with the CBP on the number of backpacks they need each week. Only the social workers know who the students are. The CBP fills the backpacks with easy-to-prepare meals such as oatmeal, canned soup, instant pasta dishes, canned protein, applesauce, snacks and juice. Volunteers deliver the backpacks to each school and they are given to the students to take home and then to return empty to be filled for the next weekend.