• JerriJohnsonmemorialatFriendshipDinner
    Jerri Johnson memorial at Friendship Dinner. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond
  • ChefShianeWilcoxencenterandvolunteersfromOmegaPiPsiandHumbleHearts
    Chef Shiane Wilcoxen (center) and volunteers from Omega Pi Psi and Humble Hearts. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond
The 38 LGBT youth experiencing homelessness who arrived for the 5th annual Friendsgiving Dinner put together with a lot of love and talent by Team 101 Chicago at the Center on Halsted’s Youth Center Nov. 19 was down from the numbers who attended the four previous years, but for Chef Shiane Wilcoxen and her team of volunteers from Omega Pi Psi and Humble Hearts that was good news.

“The first year we had about 50, the second about 100,” Wilcoxen told Windy City Times. “So it’s starting to taper off but that’s good because it means that the kids are moving on to better things.”

However, for those who were there to enjoy a delicious, full Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner there was also a raffle and the opportunity to receive a Youth Excellence Award alongside a scholarship created in the name of dedicated and beloved volunteer Jerri L. Johnson who passed away in October of this year.

Wilcoxen added that Team 101 Chicago will build the scholarship amount over the next five years.

For more information on Team 101 Chicago, visit: www.facebook.com/Team101Chicago-127974050637516.