JEFFERSON PARK — Following in the footsteps of at least two other Northwest Side confectioneries, Delightful Pastries is using sugary sweets to support Chicago Police officers and their families.
The bakery, 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., began selling an array of cookies Friday shaped like hearts and Chicago flags, all following a "thin blue line" theme. Half the proceeds from all the cookie sales will go to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which aids families of officers who were killed or wounded in the line of duty.
Owner Dobra Bielinski "really just wanted to help the Chicago Police Department, because I think there’s been a really terrible attitude toward police officers," she said.
Delightful Pastries isn't the first local business to pedal desserts for the foundation's benefit. Last month, City News Cafe, 4018 N. Cicero Ave., raised more than $1,000 through its "Thin Blue Line" truffle sale. And in 2015, Fannie's Cafe and Bakery, 5044 W. Montrose Ave., rolled out a special it called "cop cakes."
The common factor in all three promotions was Jefferson Park District lieutenant and two-time aldermanic candidate John Garrido, who pointed all the shops toward the foundation and helped promote their goodies.
When Garrido approached Bielinski, she suggested decorating blue patterns on heart-shaped cookies to bind the fundraiser with Valentine's Day, she said.
The promotion runs through Feb. 16, Bielinski said. Each cookie sells for $1.99 or $2.99, depending on its size.
