Ald. Matt O'Shea Pumps Gas At Kean Bros. For Get Behind The Vest

CHICAGO — Some politicians are full of gas. Others, like Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), pump gas. This Thursday, March 18, O’Shea will fill your car with gas at Kean Bros., the last self-serve gas station in Chicago, 111th Street and Talman Avenue. The gas station will donate 5 cents for every gallon of gas pumped to the “Get Behind The Vest Pancake Breakfast” through March 20.

The Get Behind The Vest initiative raises money for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to replace bullet-resistant vests for Chicago police officers. O’Shea, a former Reilly’s Daughter bartender, will be doing celebrity gas pumping honors from 2 to 4 p.m. Two generous donors are matching that donation meaning for every gallon of gas pumped, 15 cents will go to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.

The family-owned gas station has been serving the Mt. Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods for three generations. Attendants at the Kean Bros. gas station not only pump your gas but wash windows, check oil levels and bring out store items, so drivers don't even have to get out of their seat. It's "full-service" in the fullest degree.

>>> Thursday Last Day To Pre-Order Pancake Breakfast 'To Go' For Get Behind The Vest

Kean has been at its current location since 1975 and at the corner of 111th and Talman for over 70 years. The station was at the plot of land across the street from where it is now before '75.

In the community, the family is frequent supporters of charities like "Get Behind the Vest" and Special Olympics Chicago.

"Police officers and firefighters are big in this neighborhood as everyone knows," Raleigh Kean told Patch in 2019. "So we support them as much as we can."

O’Shea will host his annual Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, March 21 with pick-up and delivery (to 19th Ward residents) available. One-hundred percent of all donations are given to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Get Behind the Vest initiative, which purchases new bulletproof vests for Chicago Police Officers. Over the last six years, O’Shea has donated more than $183,000 to the memorial foundation through the pancake breakfast and school fundraisers.

Thursday is the last day to pre-order a pancake breakfast for $20, which includes two servings of pancakes and sausage. Order online on the 19th Ward website.