Flossmoor’s Future is sponsoring an event on Saturday, July 11, that will help promote the village and provide support for YouMatter2, a youth-led community service organization.
Last year in mid-July, the organization held Bike the Gem, a chance for cyclists to test out the route for the first Hidden Gem Half Marathon. This year, the race has been canceled and the bike ride postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers wanted to do something, though, to pursue the group’s mission, so Run Buy was created and will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery, 1035 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor.
The event keeps alive one part of last year’s events. Beer. Flossmoor Station was the final stop on the Bike the Gem route, where cyclists cooled down with a cool new craft brew developed specifically to honor the race.
This year, people can skip the ride and get the beer. Four-pack cans of the Hidden Gem beer or a commemorative T-shirt is $15. The beer and T-shirt combination will cost $25.
Flossmoor’s Future donated the shirts so more of the proceeds from sales can go to YouMatter2.
The youth group, founded by Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduate Destiny Watson, provides students in grades 7 through 12 an opportunity to promote change in areas, including education, access to clean water, food and income.
During the 2020 graduation season, YouMatter2 raised money to provide care packages to graduates who faced uncertainty as traditions were disrupted because of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, the group held a series of social justice workshops.
“We were hoping to create an event that first recognized the pride of our village — thus the T-shirt,” Flossmoor’s Future founder Tom Dobrez said. “We also wanted to speak to the times by raising money for a very important organization, and potentially add some fun in it –that’s where the beer comes in.”
He noted that all guests will be expected to observe pandemic safety precautions, including maintaining physical distancing at all times.
“The Run Buy, Love the Gem event offers a chance to more or less share a beer with your fellow runners, volunteers and citizens in spirit, while giving some money to a worthy cause and then being able to show your pride by wearing the T-shirt,” Dobrez said. “In these troubled times, there is some good news. You can enjoy the Hidden Gem Beer and not have to run 13.1 miles for it.”
Related story: You Matter 2 founder Destiny Watson’s outreach impacts peers, community (Feb. 13, 2019)