2 Chicago churches giving away 40,000 eggs this weekend to help to ease "egg-flation"
As egg prices increase, two churches on the city's South Side are taking matters into their own hands.
They will be giving out 40,000 eggs for free this weekend.
Volunteers from the churches—Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church — gathered on Friday to package and prepare the eggs.
"We bought them from Sysco. We packaged them ourselves, and put an invitation on there to come back to church if you guys want to, or even attend our Easter service. And we're just gonna be a blessing to the community tomorrow," said Deacon Stephan Coleman, director of engagement at Salem Baptist Church.
Wynne Lyle was among the volunteers stacking boxes, after sorting cartons of what has become an expensive commodity.
"People are going to the market now, and they're just staring at the eggs before picking them up," Lyle said.
The cost for a dozen eggs has jumped significantly since the start of the year, and Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist churches had more than 200 people organizing eggs for Saturday's giveaway.
"Thank God we get to do something small that makes a big impact," said Rev. Charlie Dates, head pastor of both churches, who hatched this egg distribution plan.
Since Dates oversees two churches on the South Side, he wanted the people to know the church remains a strong base for all.
"The Black church is the most relevant institution for Black people to date still, hands down. No other institution sees as many people, cares for as many people, or delivers economic improvements for as many people," he said.
The eggs will be distributed at the following locations:
- 35th and King Drive
- 47th and the Dan Ryan
- 55th and the Dan Ryan
- 87th and the Dan Ryan
- 108th and Michigan
"We will take them off refrigerated trucks and put them in the hands of families that need them," Dates said.
The giveaway will happen from noon to 2 p.m., or while supplies last.
