Stitched With Love, CPD Quilt To Be Raffled Off At Pancake Breakfast

CHICAGO – One of the highlights of Ald. Matt O’Shea’s “Get Behind the Vest” Pancake Breakfast is Jean Ricker’s police-themed quilt raffle.

Ricker, 83, has stitched together quilts made from Chicago police tee shirts from different departments and events. For the past three years, she has generously donated a handmade quilt to be raffled off at the pancake breakfast set for Sunday, Feb. 23 in Kane Hall at St. John Fisher, 10200 S. Washtenaw Ave., Chicago. Proceeds from the raffle (and breakfast) will support the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's effort to replace bullet-resistant vests for the men and women of the Chicago Police Department.

“The crummier the weather, the faster I get them done,” said Ricker, a retired Chicago Park District lifeguard and swimming instructor.

She fell into quilting later in life when a neighbor asked if she had ever made a T-shirt quilt.

“I went to Mount Greenwood Park, and they showed me how to do it,” she said.

Since then, she’s made 69 police-themed T-shirt quilts.

“They’re different colors and different themes,” Ricker said. “That’s what makes the quilts nice. It’s not repetition.”

One of her biggest fans is David Eigenberg from NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” who has attended the pancake breakfast in recent years.

“He always asks for Jean,” she laughed. “I get my picture taken every year with him by the quilt.”

Ricker grew up in St. Kilian Parish near 87th Street and Racine Avenue, where she graduated from the now defunct Maria High School. A Mount Greenwood resident of 57 years, Ricker was motivated to support the cause in memory of her uncle, who was a police officer. Her nephew is currently with the police force, and her son is a deputy fire chief in Alsip.

Her son suggested that she support the pancake breakfast by making T-shirt quilts.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she said. “I pay for everything out of my own pocket and donate it.”

She cuts the logos off the donated police shirts. It takes 16 shirts to make a quilt. After adding the batting and backing, a quilter puts all the pieces together and adds a binding.

This year, the folks at The Quilter’s Trunk, 10352 S. Western Ave., Chicago, donated their time to finish the quilt that will be raffled off at the 2025 Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast.

Ricker’s unique quilt measures 6.5’ x 6.5’. Raffle tickets are one ticket for $5: or five tickets for $20. Raffle tickets are available for purchase by visiting the 2025 Quilt Raffle and will also be sold onsite at the Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast. The winner will be drawn on Monday, Feb. 24, and will be notified by phone.

In addition to hand-stitching and donating quilts for the pancake breakfast and other Chicago Police Memorial Foundation events, Ricker has also been commissioned by families of deceased police officers to make quilts honoring their family members.

One thing Ricker can use is more donated CPD shirts. Officers can donate their police T-shirts at the pancake breakfast on Feb. 23, or drop them off at Mount Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St., Chicago.

“I have to get these policemen to cough up shirts,” Ricker said, who’s been asked to make a quilt for the CPMF Run to Remember 5K Run/Walk in May. “Last year we did three quilts. We kind of threw this one together.”

While CPD-logo'ed shirts can be dropped off at Mount Greenwood Park, last year Ricker said people were throwing them on her porch and picnic table. The “Get Behind the Vest” Pancake Breakfast is one of the highlights of her year.

“I will be there standing by the quilt,” Ricker said.

Now in its 11th year, Ald. O’Shea’s Get Behind The Vest Pancake Breakfast has raised more than $680,000 for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Get Behind The Vest initiative, which purchases bulletproof vests for the men and women of the Chicago Police Department.

Admission to the pancake breakfast is $5 per person or $25 for families, which includes all you can eat Original Pancake House – Beverly pancakes, and sausage. For the past decade – and including this year – the Harrigan Family, who owns Original Pancake House – Beverly, has generously donated all batter and sausage for the Pancake Breakfast.

Visit Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast for more upcoming events and to purchase raffle and pancake breakfast tickets.

Mt. Greenwood resident Jean Ricker has donated a quilt handmade with CPD T-shirts to be raffled off at the “Get Behind The Vest” Pancake Breakfast Feb. 23 at St. John Fisher Church, 102nd Street and Washtenaw Avenue.