CHICAGO — James Tolley is throwing a garage and lawn party at his home in Morgan Park with live music, booze and porta-potties — yep, it's going to be that big.
The event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps veterans. It's an organization that's close to Tolley's heart: He worked in Afghanistan maintaining facilities for soldiers, returning home after two years and seven months in 2014.
"Obviously being overseas the hardest part was missing my family and children and wife and all that stuff," Tolley said. "And then after I returned home I figured, 'I [feel] good now.' Shortly after being home I realized I was missing something else, and now I was missing the satisfaction, the pride I got from helping the military on a daily basis while overseas."
Tolley has planned the event for months, bringing in Liam Durkin, Week Back and Bagpipers to perform and getting food and drinks donated. Two porta-potties have been donated for guests, though Tolley said some people will also be able to use his home's bathrooms.
Tolley said he thinks about 100 people will come, and he's OK with a large crowd. He is being a bit exclusive: He wants to know at least one person out of every group that comes in.
"But if I don't know anybody? ... I don't know them, I don't want them roaming my house using bathrooms," Tolley said.
The Tolleys are no strangers to parties: Tolley made his garage, called the Barage, into a "man cave" with a full bar and pool table, and he described his yard as a beer garden. The family has hosted Halloween parties there that have brought in 100 people, he said.
"It's kind of grown a little bit from the initial idea of what this is going to be," he said. "I really kind of jumped into this not knowing what to expect or what the response would be from people, but it's been great, actually. And if I end up with 300 people stuffed in my yard and in my front lawn then so be it. It's all for a good cause."
And while Tolley want to continue hosting the event, dubbed "Barage Gives Back," it will not be at his home next year, he said.
Tickets to the party cost $25. The tickets cover the concert and open bar. The party starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at 11426 S. Campbell Ave.
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