Gibsons Restaurant Group staff, friends, and families served a decadent steakhouse lunch January 26 to more than 300 seniors who live in Catholic Charities housing communities. Alice Smith (above left) celebrated her 88th birthday during the event. Residents of St. Vincent DePaul Residence, neighbors Linda Schutz and Jesse Haley (above right), enjoyed the food and community building.
Alice Smith had been waiting all year to celebrate her 88th birthday during the Gibsons Restaurant Group’s 17th annual Catholic Charities Gibsons Lunch.
“I love it — it’s my first time here,” said Alice, who dressed up fancy for the special event. She’s lived at Hayes Manor for 13 years and appreciated the opportunity to celebrate her birthday with friends and blow out a candle on a dessert delivered tableside by volunteers at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook on Sunday, January 26.
Dressed in their Sunday best, more than 300 senior residents from Catholic Charities housing communities donned sequins, ruffles, furs, and diamonds to dine at Gibsons. They were bussed from their communities in the city and suburbs to enjoy a decadent steakhouse lunch to start their year out right.
Guests dined on shrimp cocktail, salad, roasted chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli, along with cookies and brownies for dessert. Many packed up leftovers to bring home and all guests received a gift bag provided by multiple sponsors containing sweatshirts, hats, gloves, batteries, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, a lap blanket, and more.
‘Radical hospitality’
The event started in 2008 when the downtown restaurant was traditionally closed on New Year’s Day. Gibsons employees wanted to give back to the community so the Lombardo family — longtime Catholic Charities benefactors and founders of Gibsons — partnered with Catholic Charities to host a meal for those less fortunate. The inaugural event hosted at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse on Rush Street provided 100 meals to unhoused seniors, veterans and families served by Catholic Charities. The annual event — now serving 300 participants — has been hosted at Hugo’s Chicago, Montgomery Club, and most recently, at Gibsons Oak Brook. Steve Lombardo said Gibsons and Catholic Charities share a core value of “radical hospitality” in service.
“We believe in the mission of Catholic Charities, and it’s a great way for us to give back,” said Liz Lombardo Stark, Gibsons’ Director of Marketing and Public Relations.
This year, 40 employees, their families and others volunteered to serve guests to not only honor the memory of Dave Cacioppo, a former Gibsons team member who was raised through Catholic Charities’ foster program who passed away in 2013, but to provide that “radical hospitality.”
“I like how they treat us; I love it, I really enjoy it a lot,” said Bertha Ines Ronay, an 18-year resident of St. Vincent DePaul Residence. “I especially like coming to Gibsons for the kindness they have with the old people. We wait all year for this lunch.”
Community building
This was the first time Linda Schutz, a resident of St. Vincent DePaul, got to take part in the annual lunch.
“I love that we get to talk and communicate with each other and sit down,” Linda said. “We’re warm and cozy and the food is wonderful here.”
She was grateful for the opportunity to connect with her neighbor, Jesse Haley, who was also a first-timer.
“This is a beautiful place and I’m very elated to be part of this,” Jesse said. “All of the waiters and waitresses are very accommodating, and all very attentive.”
Building community through events like this one helps seniors who are living independently to age with dignity.
“Seniors don’t always have a lot of family to visit them as they age, and this gives them the opportunity to come out and enjoy fellowship with one another and with other seniors who are part of the Catholic Charities community,” said Angel Rivera, Associate Vice President, Housing. “For a lot of folks as they age, it becomes harder to get out, especially to a special place like Gibsons. They come out in their Sunday best — best hats, best suits. It’s an opportunity to have a good time and enjoy each other’s company.”
Catholic Charities is grateful for partnerships like the one it has with the Gibsons Restaurant Group, Angel said. These partnerships empower Catholic Charities to push the mission further.
“I’m very grateful to be part of Catholic Charities. To witness the Gibsons group, their family, friends, staff, and volunteers, seeing everyone come together to serve our residents is very, very heartwarming,” Angel said.
Catholic Charities serves 1,600 residents in its 19 senior housing communities and provided services to more than 70,000 seniors last year.