NEAR WEST SIDE — In honor of Make of Difference Day, two West Loop sisters cooked a meal for hundreds of senior citizens in need Saturday.
Twin sisters Anita Ivory and Danita Ivory held the lunch at the Patrick Sullivan apartments on the Near West Side Saturday afternoon. More than 400 low-income seniors were served, Anita Ivory said.
"They were so excited," Danita Ivory said. "The very first person we served was 95 years old."
With help from a crew of 14 volunteers, the sisters served a lunch of chicken, mostaccioli, Puerto Rican rice and more at the Chicago Housing Authority-affiliated property, 1633 W. Madison St.
Anita Ivory is an assistant principal at Yates Elementary School in Logan Square and Danita Ivory is a Cook County public defender. The 38-year-old sisters, both residents of the West Loop, have planned a service project every year for the past 18 years.
The first year they provided teddy bears for sick kids at the old Cook County Hospital, and another year they prepared and delivered hot meals for the homeless living on Lower Wacker Drive. In 2013, the twins collected 1,000 pairs of new shoes for North Lawndale kids in need.
Now that this year's project is over, the sisters are already thinking about 2015.
"We are learning toward something in the area of children who live in long-term care facilities, some event on that day to make their day brighter," Anita Ivory said.
The sisters sought food donations from the community before the event. Donors included Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, West End Bar & Grille, Vera wine bar, Wallace's Catfish Corner, Lake Street Lofts, Mark Medez and Gabe Beukinga.
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