Roper Romp: Inaugural ‘Three’s Company’-themed bar crawl to benefit Palatine’s People Helping People

Come and knock on their door, they’ll be waiting for you during the inaugural Roper Romp to benefit People Helping People in Palatine.

The nonprofit organization will host the event from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in downtown Palatine.

“It is like a bar crawl and a girls’ night on the town combined,” said Cathie Johnson, founder and CEO of People Helping People, which is a grass-roots organization that started in Johnson’s dining room in 2020, during the height of COVID.

“We wanted to feed those who were compromised and had no place to go,” Johnson said. “PADS shelters were closing, and we wanted to help our community, help our neighbors. We are on an ask basis. There is no paperwork or red tape, we are here to help. And if we don’t have it, we are tied to resources that can help.”

Johnson said that right now there is a huge focus on working with students. People Helping People has put Helping Hands Pantries in seven of the 20 K-8 schools in District 15 to help families in need with food items. She said 10 more schools also need pantries, and by the end of the year they will have them.

“The school social workers know the need and reach out to us,” Johnson said. “One in four kids suffer from food insecurity in Palatine. But people don’t know it unless they are exposed to it.”

She added that there is a Comfort Closet for students in grades 9-12 at Rolling Meadows High School, Fremd, North Academy and Palatine High School. Those students can “shop” for hygiene items, snacks and shelf-stable items that they can take home. There is a drive happening to benefit the Comfort Closets now through Nov. 7, with donation bins at various locations in Palatine and Rolling Meadows. For details, visit php-palatine.com.

In April 2025, People Helping People started doing a pop-up pantry, which is by invitation only, for school families in need to shop for produce, snacks, bread and personal hygiene items.

“They can go home with two weeks worth of groceries,” Johnson said.

The organization also works with WINGS, JOURNEYS The Road Home, Little Sisters of the Poor and more. Johnson said they serve thousands of people each year. The last pop-up pantry served 187 individuals, and they are helping to feed 80 families every month from five of the local schools.

Johnson emphasized that the nonprofit couldn’t do any of it without the community’s help.

“We are a donation-based operation,” she said. “We receive everything thanks to community drives. We have a private Facebook page where we list what we need. We have about 500 followers, and maybe 10% are active, but maybe someone will have something we need.”

Johnson said People Helping People became a 501(c)3 a year ago, which has helped them tap into local grants from organizations such as the Jaycees. But, she said, for the most part it is local soccer and baseball groups and churches that hold food drives. Or they set up a table at the Palatine Holiday Lighting and people come out and learn more about their group and make donations.

“It really is all about community,” she said.

Which is one of the reasons the nonprofit decided to do the Roper Romp.

“We are pretty excited about our first fundraiser,” Johnson said.

The idea came from board member Karen McHale, who said she always wanted to do a Roper Romp. At first, Johnson was skeptical because she had never heard of it, but once they looked it up, she said why not?

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she said, laughing.

Roper Romp participants are encouraged to dress as the curly-topped landlord from the popular television sitcom “Three’s Company,” while enjoying special offers at downtown bars and shops. If you don’t have a caftan, come dressed as one of the other main characters from the show ― Jack, Chrissy, Janet or Stanley ― for the costume contest at 2:30 p.m. at Tap House Grill. Prizes will be awarded.

Admission includes a wristband, which gives patrons access to participating Palatine bars, restaurants and retailers. The first 75 ticket purchasers will receive a Roper Romp swag bag.

Both check in and final prize drawings will be held at Madcats, 117 W. Slade St., which is serving as the event’s Regal Beagle, the name of the main bar from the show.

Participating bars include American Legion Post 690, Big Grove Brewery at Durty Nellie’s, Emmett’s Brewing Company, Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse, JL’s Pizza and Sports Bar, Lamplighter Inn Tavern & Grill, Madcats, Tap House Grill, TJ O’Brien’s Bar & Grill and The Cork @ CCF.

Several shops and boutiques will be offering promotions, including Anne’s Unique Boutique, Craft Collective, Little Broken Things, My Flavor It Place and Style on Site. In addition to the afternoon’s specials and activities, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a prize basket raffle and 50/50 raffle, with all proceeds benefiting People Helping People.

Johnson said she wants the Roper Romp to also benefit local businesses that have helped her organization through the years.

“The community is incredible,” she said. “And we want to thank them for showing us support.”

And, Johnson said, “that is what People Helping People is really all about.”

“We are a community organization ― 100% of the proceeds will stay in the local and some surrounding communities. If we can help, we will.”

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Roper Romp

When: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17

Where: Check-in at Madcats, 117 W. Slade St., Palatine

Tickets: $20 in advance through Thursday, Oct. 15, at zeffy.com/en-US/organizations/people-helping-people-palatine, or $25 the day of the event at the door

Details: phppalatine@gmail.com