If you’re in a position to give back to your community as the holiday season approaches, Chicago charities and organizations offer you ample opportunities to donate food, clothes, toys, time and funds.
Take a look at our guide to donation drives and consider giving back to communities in the Chicago area this holiday season.
Food:
1 City, 1 Food Drive, Nov. 1 to Dec. 30
Where: Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place
What It’s About: More than 225 public drop-off locations will be open for food donations. You can donate food, time or money, and the goal is to collect 1.5 million meals. Every dollar provides three meals for neighbors in need. You can also organize your own food drive.
Find Out More: Call (773) 247-3663
Clothes:
NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago Coat Drive, Nov. 20 to Dec. 4
Where: NBC 5/Telemundo Chicago, 454 N. Columbus Drive
What It’s About: Giving the gift of warmth, Chicago 5 and Telemundo are running their annual Making a Difference Coat Drive. Donate new or gently used coats at one of the many drop-off box locations in Chicago and the suburbs.
Find Out More: See a list of locations for the donation sites
Annual Snug Hugs for Kids Clothing Drive, Oct. 26 to Dec. 15
Where: All Merlin 200,000 Miles shops in Illinois and Wisconsin
What It’s About: This clothing drive collects new and nearly new warm winter clothing for children enrolled in Children’s Home + Aid Child and Family Centers. There is a special need for adult sizes in coats, sweaters, pants and socks. Merlin 200,000 Miles shops are also collecting hats, scarves, mittens and gloves.
Find Out More: Visit their website
Toys/ Gifts:
Salvation Army Angel Tree Program for the Greater Chicagoland Area, Oct. 1 to Dec. 24
Where: Donate online or at the Salvation Army Corps Community Centers and The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters at 5040 N. Pulaski Rd.
What It’s About: NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago are partnering with The Salvation Army to offer an online version of the Angel Tree program to our viewers. Registering for the Virtual Angel Tree allows you to view and select Christmas wishes for children in need. Gifts can be dropped off at The Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters and Salvation Army Corps Community Centers.
Find Out More: Visit their website or call (773) 205-3502
Gifts Drive to Benefit the Children of Child Link, Nov. to Dec. 24
Where: Child Link, 955 West Cermak Rd., 2nd Floor
What It’s About: In this gift drive you can buy toys for children and teenagers. Buy a toy for a child for $25, buy a gift card for a teenager for $25 or make an end of the year donation for $25, $50, $100 or $500. You can also drop off unwrapped gifts at the Child Link office by calling them in advance at (312) 377-4735.
Find Out More: Call (312) 377-4735
Children’s Home + Aid Chicago Metro Region Holiday Gift Drive, Nov. to Dec. 11
Where: Children’s Home + Aid Holiday Headquarters, 100 N. Western Ave., Suite 200
What It’s About: You can either grant a wish for a child (up to age 20) by fulfilling their wishlist ($50 to $100 per child), or you can adopt a family and fulfill their wishes for gifts and essential home items ($50 to $100 per child and an additional $100 to $200 for the family needs). Gifts must be delivered between Dec. 1 and 11 to the Holiday Headquarters.
Find Out More: Visit their website
Elder Holiday Gift Program, Nov. to Dec. 12
Where: Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, 355 N. Ashland Ave.
What It’s About: Help make the holidays special for the elderly by giving a personalized gift. Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Chicago’s Chapter is collecting 1,000 personalized gifts this November and December that will be delivered to the elders in their program during the holiday season. There are also opportunities to volunteer with the elderly after going through an orientation training. Volunteers from every walk of life are welcome, and you can sign up for an orientation training by calling (312) 455-1000. The trainings are Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Dec. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Find Out More: Call (312) 455-1000
Chicago Wolves’ Participate in the U.S. Marines Toys For Tots Drive, Dec. 2, 5, 19 and 21
Where: Allstate Arena, 6920 North Mannheim Road in Rosemont
What It’s About: Throughout the month of December the Chicago Wolves will collect new, unwrapped toys at certain games.
Find Out More: Call 1-800-THE-WOLVES
Fifth Annual Happy Hour Holiday Toy Drive, Dec. 3, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Where: Monks Pub, 205 West Lake Street
What It’s About: The Associate Board of the Legal Aid Society (ABLAS) and the Metropolitan Family Services are running a happy hour toy drive to benefit the clients served by these two organizations. The cost is $20 if you bring a toy ($25 without a toy) and includes beer and appetizers and a silent auction. There is also a way to donate money online.
Find Out More: Call Michael Schilling at (312) 879-3050, or contact him via email at micheal.schilling@ey.com
Heartland Alliance Holiday Stuff-A-Stocking, through Dec. 18:
Where: Donate online or at Heartland Alliance, 208 S. La Salle St., Suite 1300
What It’s About: Choose from a number of stocking stuffer gifts that range from toiletries and gift cards to toys and household items.
Find Out More: Call (312) 660-1325
Time:
Common Pantry, Wednesdays in December
Where: 3744 North Damen Ave.
What It’s About: Volunteers can help with Wednesday food distributions from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. They can also help distribute holiday gifts to children during Wednesday food distributions in December. To become a volunteer you need to fill out a volunteer request form on Common Pantry’s website.
Find Out More: Visit their website
Funds For Experiences:
Local
Annual Holiday Brunch by Heartland Health Outreach, Dec. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Four Seasons Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 120 E. Delaware Place
What It’s About: Proceeds from the holiday brunch go towards Heartland Health Outreach’s HIV/AIDS services and the Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care program. There will be a raffle for a $10,000 cash prize with $100 raffle tickets.
Find Out More: Visit their website
