Covenant Living Residents Turn Holiday Handiwork Into Help For Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — At Covenant Living of Northbrook, the spirit of giving does not end when the holidays are over.

Residents recently welcomed local first responders, the Northbrook Public Library and the Northfield Township Food Pantry for their annual appreciation luncheon, an event centered on gratitude, community and giving back.

During the gathering, residents recognized the organizations with monetary donations funded through proceeds from the community’s annual Merry Market.

The market, formerly known as Holly Fair, has become a familiar tradition at Covenant Living. Residents spend months creating handmade items, paintings, wood carvings and other gifts and decorations, which are then offered for the public to purchase. What starts as a showcase of talent and craftsmanship becomes something more meaningful, with proceeds going back into the broader Northbrook community.

For residents, the luncheon offered a chance to personally thank the people and organizations that help keep the village strong, safe and connected.

“Our residents put their hearts into everything they create, and they do it with a purpose of giving back,”Bob Martin, Covenant Living resident and Merry Market committee treasurer, tells Patch. “Supporting our first responders, the library, and the food pantry is part of who we are. These organizations do so much for Northbrook, and this is our way of saying thank you.”

Covenant Living of Northbrook is a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living community on Techny Road that is part of the larger Covenant Living Communities and Services network. Located at 2625 Techny Road, it serves adults 62 and older on a 55-acre campus and offers a range of housing options, including apartments, cottages and quadruplex homes.

The donations reflect not only the success of the market, but also the values behind it. Residents can use their time and talents in a way that directly benefits their neighbors, while also strengthening ties between Covenant Living and the wider community.

Merry Market proceeds also support employee scholarships and resident life enrichment programs, helping extend the fundraiser’s impact inside the Covenant Living community as well.

In a village where community institutions often rely on one another, residents said the annual luncheon is a reminder that appreciation can take many forms. At Covenant Living, it comes through handmade work, shared effort and a tradition of giving that continues to make a difference.