Carrying picnic baskets, lawn chairs and coolers, visitors entered the grounds of the Franciscan Village and Mother Theresa Home in Lemont for the annual “Picnic in Our Backyard.”
Each year, the Franciscan sisters open their spacious grounds to guests for a family-style picnic. Sales of raffle tickets, food and beverages raised about $20,000 for the Mother Theresa Home, a nursing care facility that shares the property with the Franciscan Village, a retirement community. The picnic also featured a white elephant sale.
“It’s a day of fun and food for families and the sisters,” said Elizabeth Brown of Naperville, co-chairwoman of this year’s picnic. “It’s a fun day to come out and support the village.”
Riverside residents Nancy and Mel Richards were among the volunteers. At one time, both had parents living at the nursing home, and even though their parents have died, they still donate their time. “This is such a great cause,” Nancy said. “They do a fantastic job here of caring for the elderly.”
Mom and daughter Denise and Mary Sitasz of Chicago were carting away a haul of goodies from the white elephant sale, including a grocery cart, an umbrella, Victoria’s Secret padded hangers, a decorated hat and a wallet, all for only $15.
“This is an annual thing for us,” Mary said. “We always find some good things, and the polka band is always good.”
