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

JUMP TO: RECEIVE | GIVE | CHARITY EVENTS | VOLUNTEER

The holiday season is not fast approaching. It’s here. And that means different things for different people.

The holidays can be as challenging and painful as they are merry and bright. In that context, The Record’s Holiday Giving and Receiving Guide is a resource for those who need help this holiday season and for those who wish 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? Please 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) 446-8203. Application. Questions on donations: bleverenz@newtriertownship. Questions on eligibility: jwinstedrosser@newtriertownship.com. Distribution: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Donation Priorities: supplemental groceries, paper goods and hygiene items.
• Moraine Township, 800 Central Ave., Highland Park, (847) 432-3240, linda@morainetownship.org. Distribution: 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday; 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday. Donation dropoff: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Donation Priorities: instant rice, pasta sauce, instant coffee and tea, pasta (no spaghetti), canned tuna, canned chicken, canned salmon, crackers, condiments (mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup), salad dressing.
• Northfield Township, 2550 Waukegan Road, Suite 100, Glenview, (847) 724-8300, pantry@northfieldtownship.com. Distribution: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday; Donation Priorities: canned soup, Ramen, 100% fruit juice, pancake mix, baking mixes (cookies, muffins, cake).
• Wilmette Food Pantry, Trinity United Methodist Church, 1024 Lake Ave., Wilmette, (847) 251-7333, wilmettefoodpantry@gmail.com. Distribution: 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. Donations may be placed inside of church in a bin in the hallway.

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 dropoff locations (unwrapped new toys through Dec. 15, depending on location):
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.
Wilmette: Big Blue Swim School, 3232 Lake Ave. Suite 350
Winnetka: Junior League Evanston-North Shore, 620 Lincoln Ave. Suite 209
Kenilworth: Village Hall, 419 Richmond Road
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.
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)

Caring Neighbors Program: New Trier Township, 739 Elm St. Winnetka
Sponsor a family who uses the Township’s food pantry by donating food cards. Suggested card value is $50. Donate to the program by contacting Jeanne Winsted Rosser at jwinstedrosser@newtriertownship.com or (847) 446-8201.

Winter Coat/Clothing Drive: Northfield Public Library, 1785 Orland Lane, Northfield; and New Trier High School Northfield campus, 7 Happ Road, Northfield
Donate gently used coats, boots, hats and gloves at either location to benefit Cradles to Crayons.

Coats For Kids Drive: Highland Park Fire Station No. 33, 1130 Central Ave.
Through Feb. 1, drop off gently used children’s winter clothing to support local families in need.

Glencoe Community Holiday Drive: Glencoe Village Hall, 675 Village Court
Through Jan. 10, help New Trier area families in need this season with this 33rd annual donation drive, this year benefitting the New Trier Township Food Pantry. Give online, view the pantry’s wish list or drop off donations at 739 Elm St., Winnetka.

Thanksgiving Baskets: North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe
Help provide Thanksgiving dinners for hundreds of families of Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan. Join the congregation from 10 a.m.-noon on Nov. 24 to assemble grocery items and make holiday cards. Click here for how to donate grocery items.

Day of Giving: Online Clothing and Food Drive
Through Dec. 7, support North Shore area families by purchasing grocery and clothing items from an online registry that will then be delivered to recipients on Dec. 7. The event is organized by North Shore School District 112, the 112 Education Foundation, the district’s PTOs, SaLT and the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood. With questions, email Jamie Cohn at jcohn@nssd112.org, and to volunteer, email Ida Fiore at ida@saltservice.org

Winter Hats and Gloves Drive: Glencoe Village Hall, 675 Village Court
Through Dec. 15, the Glencoe Council of Inclusion and Community is collecting gently used winter gear (hats and gloves) in partnership with Service and Learning Together and Imagine Englewood. A donation box will also be available during the town’s Light the Lights event on Nov. 29.

CHARITY EVENTS

Holiday Market: Service and Learning Together
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 1900-1894 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, proceeds benefit SaLT for this market featuring three storefronts full of vendors, artists and makers.

4th Annual Santa For A Cause: I am ALS
From 9 a.m.-noon on Dec. 11 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

Service and Learning Together, or SaLT
A Highland Park nonprofit for which young people collaborate on service projects and trips. For more information, visit the website, email salt@saltservice.org or call (847) 745-9706

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.

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