Chicago-based Home Run Inn will join hands with the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) to distribute thousands of free pizzas to Chicago shelters for people experiencing homelessness this week.
The event, now in its fourth year, is called Miracle on 31st Street. It will unfold on Tuesday, December 9, from 10 to 11 a.m., with more than 5,000 pizzas scheduled to be provided to 30 shelters. It includes Christmas caroling from The Caroling Connection and an appearance by Dreezy Claus, described as “Chicago’s Black Santa,” at the brand’s original location on 31st Street.
DFSS Commissioner Angela Green issued a statement saying the agency is “deeply moved each year by Home Run Inn’s generosity to our homeless shelter community, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support of underserved populations in need. The joy of Miracle on 31st Street and the happiness the day brings for our shelter providers and residents is a true gift. Nothing spreads cheer quite like a classic Chicago pizza.”
Gina Perrino Bolger, Home Run Inn’s chief marketing officer and a fourth-generation family member, said the tradition “fills our hearts each year, giving us the chance to come together and support those who need it most. Sharing meals with our community is core to who we are, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to spread a little hope and comfort during this season.”
DFSS works with community partners to connect Chicago residents and families to resources that build stability, support their well-being, and empower them to thrive. As the fifth largest city agency and one of the largest social service funders in Chicago, DFSS provides direct services at six Community Service Centers, six Regional Senior Centers, and through partnerships with 350 community-based organizations across the city. In total, DFSS services and funding support over 400,000 vulnerable Chicagoans each year.
