ST. LOUIS — In a cozy South St. Louis kitchen, Peggy Winckowski, affectionately known as "Grandma Peggy," whips up a storm of comfort food and healing. Every Wednesday for the past two years, dozens of teenagers have flocked to her home for what she calls "dawn delights."
"I would say we make 10 dozen eggs," Peggy shares, adding, "I had over 200 pancakes... I had 12 pounds of bacon."
This weekly feast, dubbed the Wednesday Breakfast Club, was the brainchild of Peggy's grandson, Sam Crowe, a sophomore at Bishop Du Bourg High School. What started as a few friends meeting at a diner soon outgrew its original venue. "It was just some guys and grandma and then it grew pretty quickly," recalls Jeremy Roeder, a club member. "That was in part to Sam, you know, he just was always invite-ful to everyone."
Peggy embraced the growing tradition. "I loved it," she says. "And we only eat our real dishes here because I will never serve you on a paper plate."
But tragedy struck when Sam was killed in a devastating accident. "It was the most devastating thing that I've ever been through," Peggy shares, her voice breaking. "It was horrific."
In the face of such loss, many expected the Breakfast Club to disband. Instead, it became a lifeline. The very next Wednesday after Sam's passing, even more students showed up at Grandma Peggy's door.
"Even if I'm so tired on Wednesdays like I want to go to Breakfast Club, I love it so much," says Olivia Gagen, a regular attendee. Another student, Claudia Hurd, describes the experience: "It's almost like a warm hug. It's like you walk in, you're greeted by grandma, you smell the breakfast, it's just the best way to wake up."
On the second anniversary of Sam's passing - or "Angel-versary" as Peggy calls it - the group gathered for a special breakfast-for-dinner event. Greg Reynolds, a friend of Sam's, reflects, "It was a big turning point in most of our lives when that happened. So I think it's important to remember that and honor that."
The healing extends beyond the kitchen. A garden on the front lawn, planted by the students, stands as a living memorial to Sam. "It brings tears to my eyes every time I walk by," Peggy admits.
Students in the Breakfast Club
Now, Grandma Peggy is channeling her experience into a children's book about grief. Her wisdom shines through as she says, "Grief just means you had a lot of love."
Back in the kitchen, the air is thick with the aroma of pancakes and the warmth of cherished memories. Peggy finds comfort in believing, "Sam's directing all this from above, you know, he is got this, he's got us covered."
What started as a tragedy has transformed into a testament to the power of community and love. At Grandma Peggy's table, grief may have brought them together, but it's love that keeps them coming back for seconds.
As Jeremy Roeder puts it, "We all love Grandma Peggy a whole lot, like with all of our hearts." And it's clear that Grandma Peggy's love - served up with a heaping side of pancakes - is helping this community heal, one Wednesday at a time.
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