05/27/2024
OUR STORY
Hazel Haywood born in Louisiana and raised in Mississippi was gifted with a spirit of hospitality and servanthood along with exceptional cooking skills. At an early age, she was taught how to cook from scratch and developed a love for doing so. She cooked just about every Southern comfort food from Collard Greens, Sweet potatoes, Dressing, Homemade sausage, Gumbo and many other tasty dishes.
As a highly skilled baker, she would bake goodies such as German Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cake, Tea Cakes, Pound Cake, Blueberry Cobbler, Cheesecake, Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie and the list goes on.
Hazel always worked to improve her skills by trying new dishes and recipes often discovering them in magazines such as Martha Stewart and Southern Living. She had a flair for cooking and would always utilize the finest ingredients to ensure the best taste and quality.
As the matriarch of her family, she spent many years displaying her gifts and talents by hosting family dinners, events and Holidays. In spite of sometimes having meager means, she never hesitated to go out of her way to provide the very best that she could offer because she understood the importance of creating dishes with an exceptional taste. Hazel was very passionate and genuinely loved entertaining her family, friends, loved ones and also strangers. She was very particular about her presentation and would do so in such a grand fashion. She would always serve you at her dining table using her finest tableware and linen. “Uncle Sonny” would joke and say that dining at Hazel’s was just a step down from the White House.
Hazel was employed by Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. McGuire for many years and throughout her tenure there, she had the opportunity to utilize her skills at their “Monday Night” dinner parties and other social gatherings at their home. She was essentially beloved and embraced as a member of their family. This love was also reciprocated by many of their close friends and regular guests.
Hazel dreamed of someday sharing her gifts, talents and love of cooking with the homeless and underserved/underprivileged. Despite her passing in 2001, her spirit is still yet alive and her dream is yet to be fulfilled as her legacy will continue by the establishment of the Hazel Haywood Boykin Foundation.
Hazel’s life exemplified that of a true servant and she displayed that as she obeyed the Second Greatest Commandment found in Matthew 22:39, to love your neighbor as yourself. She loved and served God, her family, friends, neighbors and strangers.
Growing up, I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen with my mother learning how to cook and prepare dishes and desserts that were very tasty and also quite appealing. After many years of being encouraged to launch a bakery business, in November of 2022, Hazel’s Gourmet Sweets was manifested. I continue to use many of my mother’s recipes using prime ingredients for an impeccable taste. In September of 2023, I entered my Sweet Potato Pecan Pie in the Oak Park pie contest and won 3rd place. At this event, I was interviewed by Chicago Tribune reporter, Michael Phillips. When asked what compelled me to enter the contest, I began to share my mother’s story and her dream of wanting to feed this homeless. It was at that moment that I realized the time was now to establish this foundation.
Throughout my years of being out in the neighborhoods with my home church evangelizing and just living in the inner city, I have witnessed the needs of the homeless, underserved and disadvantaged. What I experienced from my mother was an unconditional love and it is with that same love that I have a heartfelt desire to impact the lives of others. The core of this foundation is to extend hospitality with the utmost of grace and dignity and with the best that we can offer.
Our mission is to meet the wholistic needs of those that we can help by offering the following:
1. Prepare and distribute food directly to individuals living on the streets.
2. Offer home-cooked, chef-inspired meals in a communal dining setting for those facing food insecurity.
3. Introduce underserved and underprivileged youth to elevated dining experiences.
4. Provide exposure to cultural opportunities within the City of Chicago for disadvantaged youth.
5. Supply daily essentials, toiletries, personal hygiene items, and clothing to those in need.
6. Facilitate access to resources for mental health and social services.
We are dedicated to demonstrate the love of Christ by sharing and the giving of our time and resources.
Stacy Boykin
CEO and Founder
