The Holiday Giving and Receiving Guide: How to help and get help this holiday season

JUMP TO: RECEIVE | GIVE | CHARITY EVENTS | VOLUNTEER

‘Tis the season has a unique meaning to everyone who hears it.

The holidays are as challenging and painful as they are merry and bright. In that context, The Record’s Holiday Giving and Receiving Guide is meant to be a resource for those who need help this holiday season, as those who have the means and desire to provide help.

This guide will evolve throughout the season as readers submit more programs and resources to help their neighbors. Have something in mind? Do not hesitate to email Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin at joe@therecordns.org and it will be included.

RECEIVE

Food Pantries (Users may need approval prior to visiting. Contact organization.)
• New Trier Township, 739 Elm St., Winnetka, (847) 446-8201. Distribution: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Donation Priorities: cereal, cookies, crackers, granola bars, pasta sauce, peanut butter and jelly, nuts, raisins, canned fruit, canned tuna, salad dressing, cooking oil, condiments, Ziploc-style bags, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash
• Moraine Township, 800 Central Ave., Highland Park, (847) 432-3240, linda@morainetownship.org. Distribution: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; Donation Priorities: rice (bagged or boxed), baking ingredients, jelly or jam, salad dressing, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned salmon, crackers, hearty soup, cooking oil, coffee, tea, hot chocolate
• Northfield Township, 2550 Waukegan Road, Ste 100, Glenview, (847) 724-8300. Distribution: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursdays; Donation Priorities: pancake mix, coffee and tea, canned salmon, boxed cereal, boxed rice mixes.
• Wilmette Food Pantry, Trinity United Methodist Church, 1024 Lake Ave., Wilmette; Distribution: 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. Donations may be placed inside of church in a bin in the hallway. For more information, email wilmettefoodpantry@gmail.com.

Mental Health Services
• Erika’s Lighthouse, 897 1/2 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, (847) 386-6481, www.erikaslighthouse.org
Programs to combat adolescent depression and raise awareness of teenaged suicide
• The Josselyn Center, 405 Central Ave., Northfield, (847) 441-5600, josselyn.org
Mental health care for all through community programming
• Thresholds, 4101 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, (773) 572-5500, www.thresholds.org
Services and resources for those experiencing mental illness and substance abuse

Legal Services
• North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, 3500 Western Ave. #2A, Highland Park; (847) 737-4042, info@nslegalaid.org
Free legal services related to immigration, housing and abuse for low-income families in suburban Cook County and Lake County.

GIVE

Toys for Tots locations (unwrapped new toys through Dec. 15):
Wilmette: Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette: Fire Stations, 1304 Lake Ave., and 747 Illinois Road
Wilmette: Police Station, 710 Ridge Road
Wilmette: Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road
Wilmette: Central Station Coffee and Tea, 1150 Central Ave.
Winnetka: Junior League Evanston-North Shore, 620 Lincoln Ave. Ste. 209
Glencoe: Village Hall, 675 Village Court
Northfield: Village Hall, 361 Happ Road (8 a.m.-4 p.m. M-F)
Northfield: Fire-Rescue, 1800 Winnetka Ave.
Northfield: Meersman Sports Medicine, 778 Frontage Road, Ste 118 (Business hours)
Highland Park: Fire Station 33, 1130 Central Ave. (7 a.m.-4 p.m. Tu-F)
Highland Park: Freedom Home Care, 1749 Green Bay Road (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F)

Glencoe Community Holiday Drive: Glencoe Village Hall, 675 Village Court
Through Dec. 12, help Glencoe families in need this season with this 32nd annual donation drive, a partnership between the Village of Glencoe and Family Service of Glencoe. Donations are used to purchase gift cards distributed starting Dec. 15. Give online or mail/drop off donations at Village Hall, 675 Village Court, Glencoe.

Winter Coats Drive: North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe
Through Dec. 18, drop off gently used winter apparel — including coats, hats, gloves and boots — between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays at the congregation’s administrative offices. Items will benefit children at Jordan Community Elementary School in Chicago.

Holiday Coat Drive: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2211 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook
From 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays through Dec. 24, drop off new and used coats to the church offices.

New Sock Collection: Good Grapes, 821 Chestnut Court, Winnetka
Through Dec. 31, Good Grapes will host its annual new-sock drive. Socks can be dropped off at the store or delivered directly to the store from an online order.

CHARITY EVENTS

Christmas Market: Good News Partners, Rogers Park
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Jonquil Hotel Learning Center, 1600 W. Jonquil Terrace, Chicago, the market features gifts of all kind at a significant discount to raise funds for those in transition on the far north side.

A Few of My Favorite Things: The Josselyn Center
From 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 14 at The Glen View Club, 100 Golf Road, in Golf, the Auxiliary Board of The Josselyn Center, of Northfield, is hosting the shopping event to raise funds for a van to help teens with transportation to and from mental health care. Tickets are $50 a person or $75 per couple.

Santa For A Cause: I am ALS
From 9 a.m.-noon on Dec. 17 at Central Station Coffee and Tea, 1150 Central Ave. in Wilmette, donations will be accepted for I Am ALS while guests can visit and take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

VOLUNTEER

Radical Generosity Chicago
Radical Generosity Chicago is a nonprofit dedicated to serving food- and housing-insecure families in Chicago and the northern suburbs. Check out their website for volunteer opportunities and seasonal events.

Christmas Market from Good News Partners Good News Partners
This special holiday event is in need of volunteers to purchase and sort gifts, bake cookies, and donate wrapping paper and bows. The event is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Jonquil Hotel Learning Center, 1600 W. Jonquil Terrace, Chicago. Interested individuals or groups should contact Ernesta Williams at ernesta@goodnewspartners.org or (773) 764-4998.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.