Pop’s Beef Spreads Holiday Cheer Through Community Giveback Initiatives

Pop's Italian Beef & Sausage
Published: November 24th, 2025

November 24, 2025 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO, IL – Pop’s Beef is celebrating the holiday season with a full lineup of giveback initiatives. This season, Pop’s Beef locations across Illinois and Indiana are hosting a system-wide Toys for Tots drive, hosting a holiday ornament giveaway for Small Business Saturday, and preparing for its annual blood drive in January.

“Giving back is at the heart of everything we do,” said Burke Matyas, owner of Pop’s Beef in Tinley Park. “Pop’s Beef has become such a staple in the communities we serve, and finding ways to give back is something we truly love. Doing that during the holiday season feels especially meaningful. Seeing our guests, neighbors, and team come together reminds us how grateful we are for this community.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to giving back, Pop’s Beef is celebrating the season with a series of community-focused initiatives designed to make a meaningful impact:

• Toys for Tots
  • Pop’s Beef has officially launched its annual Toys for Tots donation drive, collecting new, unwrapped toys through December 5. Last year, the brand collected approximately 1,500 toys, and this year Pop’s is aiming even higher to bring joy to more local families.
• Holiday Ornament Giveaway
  • To celebrate Small Business Saturday on November 29, Pop’s Beef will be giving away festive holiday ornaments to the first 100 customers at each location who whisper the secret phrase, “beefy & bright.” It’s a fun way for Pop’s to say thank you to the loyal guests and communities that have supported the brand for more than four decades.
• Community Blood Drive
  • Following the success of its inaugural blood drive last year, Pop’s Beef is once again partnering with the American Red Cross for its second blood drive on January 20th from 1–6 p.m. at the American Legion in Worth, IL. Last year, the drive collected over 45 units of blood, with donors enjoying complimentary hot dogs, T-shirts, and gift cards. This year, Pop’s hopes to exceed last year’s record and make an even greater impact.

For Kacie Radochonski, VP of Operations at Pop’s Beef, the event holds a deeply personal significance. After experiencing life-threatening complications during childbirth last year, Kacie’s life was saved thanks to the generosity of blood donors.

“Launching this initiative last year was incredibly meaningful, not just for me, but for our entire Pop’s family,” said Radochonski. “I’ll never forget the gift that blood donors gave me, and being able to pay that forward by helping others is something I’ll always be passionate about. We’re so proud to see our community rally behind such an important cause and to continue building on what we started.”

SOURCE  Pop’s Beef