Greening up the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ!
September 12 marks one of my favorite community events - the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ, benefitting Bridge Communities. If you've never attended, it's a fabulous day of amateur BBQ competition plus other food and beverages, a kids play area, raffles, live music, and spending time with friends and neighbors. Last year was pretty special for me personally, because my husband's BBQ team placed 3rd in the Ribs competition!
But this year is shaping up to be even better, because it's going to be GREENER than ever before! In 2025, Bridge CEO Amy Van Polen and Go Green Glen Ellyn began brainstorming ways to make this event more sustainable. Read our interview with Bridge Communities CEO, Amy Van Polen, to learn more about this year's "green glow up."
LEARN
Go Green Glen Ellyn has been working with Bridge Communities for the last several months to "green up" one of their largest annual fundraisers, the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ. GGGE and Bridge Communities have partnered together in the past, notably in 2025 for a community tree planting at several of their properties, where community members came together to plant over 20 new trees.
In 2025, we discussed our mutual wishes to help make the Backyard BBQ "greener" and were thrilled to work together with Bridge to make it a reality for the 2026 event. Go Green Glen Ellyn will be funding the cost of bottled water in aluminum for the event - nearly 1,000 bottles! We sat down with Bridge CEO Amy Van Polen to chat more about what inspired these changes and what residents can expect to see at this year's event.
GGGE: Can you tell us more about Bridge Communities and the Backyard BBQ event?
Amy: "Bridge Communities provides housing and transformational life skills, education and financial coaching to more than 100 families each year. Families leave our 2-year program with the skills and financial stability needed to sustain long-term housing. The Backyard BBQ fundraiser is on its 18th year and has something for everyone! Best of all, this event raises thousands of dollars in support of the families facing homelessness served by Bridge Communities."
GGGE: We started talking about making this event more sustainable last year. What inspired you to begin thinking about those changes?
Amy: "Bridge is working to make all of our events and our operations more environmentally friendly. So finding ways to reduce the environmental footprint of the BBQ became a top priority. We are so impressed with the work that Go Green is doing throughout the local community; they have made this transition possible."
GGGE: What changes have you committed to for this year's event?
Amy: "We have eliminated nearly all plastics at the event by using aluminum drink cups, bamboo silverware, aluminum cans, and compostable disposables throughout the event. We have also partnered with Go Green to use their recycling receptacles."
GGGE: How are you managing the transition - do you have extra funding or volunteers?
Amy: "Go Green Glen Ellyn have graciously underwritten the cost of the aluminum water bottles, and they will work with volunteers to help ensure that recycling receptacles are used properly. Since this is the first year having recycling at the event, we would love to have additional community members join the event's Green Team to help! We are also fortunate to receive a sponsorship from Comcast to support other costs."
GGGE: What are you hoping to accomplish by making these changes?
Amy: "Bridge is proud to be a part of the Glen Ellyn community and we hope that by joining in partnership with Go Green we continue to be a good steward of this community. The Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ supports families living and working in Glen Ellyn, so we want our event guests to see that we care about this community."
GGGE: What will the funds raised from the Backyard BBQ support?
Amy: "The Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ is projected to raise enough funds to provide housing and all the incredible family-focused services to 5 local families for an entire year. We are so proud of the work from the committee to bring this event to life and we can’t wait to welcome all of you!"
GGGE: Finally, what's your favorite food to eat at a BBQ?!
Amy: "I love to indulge on some mac and cheese with brisket or burnt ends – yum!"
DO
Inspired by our green efforts? Join us in volunteering at the Backyard BBQ! Volunteers are needed for the "green team," as well as floaters throughout the afternoon and evening. Training will be provided. Help us to make this transitional year a successful one!!
And if you can't volunteer, you can still come see all this green goodness for yourself, enjoy some BBQ and music and support a great cause!
Saturday, September 12, 2026
1 to 9:30 pm
Duane Street Public Parking Lot (next to the Library)
Glen Ellyn, IL
www.glenellynbackyardbbq.org