By Russ George
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley held their February membership meeting Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street, in North Aurora.
Club members welcomed our newest member Kari Mathieu, into our group, held a short business meeting, then began to celebrate Valentines Day, a few days early with free door prize drawings, donated by our fundraising chairperson, Jenny McCain, along with some sweet treats for dessert compliments of Marilyn George. Paul Buddy ended the evening with several trivia questions, those who answered correctly received a special treat, an incorrect answer required a donation to the club treasury.
Our Club’s February “Meet and Greet”, organized by media chairperson, Ann McBride, to expose our Club and our mission, was held Saturday, Feb. 15, at Atrevete Cafe 1888, 504 Lincoln Avenue, in the new Bloomhaven campus.
This 137 year old historic site was home to the original Copley Hospital, built in 1888, and is the second site of popular Atrevete Confections, located in neighboring Montgomery.
The first floor of the building has five additional rooms that are used to create comfortable seating areas for Cafe patrons as well as spaces that can be rented for small events and receptions.
Jeff Williams, business partner from Atrevete Confections, stopped by to welcome our group to Atrevete Cafe 1888. Jeff said, “Atrevete Confections was established in 2017, by Jacqueline Mejia, who has a degree in Classical French Pastry from the renown French Pastry School of Chicago. In 2020 he became her business partner with the goal of forming a commercial kitchen that would expand production space for Atrevete Confections. In 2023 they opened Atrevete Collaborative Kitchen Company and later were invited by KWCC, who was in the process of restoring the old Copley Hospital on the East side of Aurora, to operate in the original hospital built in 1888. Listed on the Historical Registry, Cafe 1888 is Atrevete’s newest location serving Atrevete Confection’s exquisite pastries, desserts and coffee creations now paired with Chef Scott Seese’s original recipe soups, salads, sandwiches and paninis.” He went on to say, “In the near future we’ll be serving custom cocktails, mocktails, small plate dinners, charcuterie and more along with our current coffee, espressos and desserts. We’ll also be holding game nights, pop up space for vendors, talks by local historians, live podcasts from Good Morning Aurora and maybe a murder mystery party or two”.
Please mark your calendar for next months “Meet and Greet” being held Saturday, March 15, at Panera Bread, 1450 Douglas Road, in Oswego, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley work together, to provide diabetes awareness in the Fox Valley area, while raising funds to provide aid and education for diabetics, along with investing in research to find a cure. Uncontrolled blood sugar (glucose) can cause vision problems, heart problems, nerve damage, dental problems, kidney damage and more. Eat healthy, stay active and have a yearly blood test, to stay diabetes free!
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, a true grassroots organization, where all money raised through dues, donations and fundraising is used locally for the club’s fight against diabetes. Tax deductible donations can be made on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com or mail your tax deductible donation to: Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, P.O. Box 88, North Aurora, Illinois 60542.
Why not join our fight against diabetes? You don’t need to be diabetic to be a member of our club! Plan on attending one of our membership meetings or events, guests are always welcome! Yearly individual membership dues are $50. Corporate dues are $150 per year, which includes a sponsorship listing on our website: www.diabeteshelpnearme.com.
Have questions about the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, please call, text or send an E-mail with your name and address to president Russ George, 630-205-9065 or send Email: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.
Please continue to keep informed about our club’s upcoming events, by following us in The Voice, on Facebook, and on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com.