Community Corner
Breakfast is served!
Elmhurst teen Megan Bogolia is serving up breakfast every third Saturday of the month with the help of her youth group.
Name: Megan Bogolia
Age: 14
School: Megan is a sophomore at York High School
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Achievement: Megan is organizing a monthly breakfast to be served and prepared by her youth group at First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst on the third Saturday of each month, coinciding with the Saturday hours for the church’s Community Clothing Center. The first breakfast is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Key to Awesomeness: Twice a month, Megan’s church opens its doors to community members who are in need of clothing. First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst’s Clothing Center is housed in the lower level of the church at 232 S. York Road and operates the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month. Starting next week, Megan is helping to realize the goal of serving breakfast to the Clothing Center clients on each third Saturday.
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“This idea has been bouncing around my church for a little bit,” Megan says. “I heard about it and I thought it was a great idea.”
In preparation, Megan and the rest of her youth group met with Greg Gills, who has helped serve breakfast for the PADS shelter in Bensenville for more than 20 years. Gills helped the youth plan the menu and talked about the logistics of serving a large group of people.
Even though Aug. 20 is expected to be warm and summery, Megan is thinking ahead to the winter months.
“I wanted [the breakfast] to be before the Clothing Center opens so we can invite people in instead of having them wait outside for hours,” she says. “Especially when it’s really cold in the winter. Instead of waiting outside in the cold, they can come inside and get a nice, warm meal.”
Lisa Rogers, director of youth ministry at First Church, is confident that Megan will see her vision through to reality.
“Megan has great organizational skills,” Rogers says. “I find her to be very good at following through. I have every confidence that, since she has set her mind on making this happen, she will make it happen. She has a great support system who will be involved in this as well.”
“It’s important for everybody to give back to the community,” Megan says. “It’s something my mom has always tried to make me understand. She wants me to get out there and help.”
