Greetings,
In these times of uncertainty, many of us are wondering what we can do to help others in our community who are less fortunate. Many of our Chicagoland neighbors are more vulnerable than ever during this crisis we all are facing.

We are sharing a list below of our most recent charitable grant recipients , made possible because of you: our shoppers, consignors, donors, volunteers and employees.

Many of these organizations are directly assisting those who are experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 outbreak . Should you feel moved to support any of them, we have included links to help make that easy.

Thank you, and be well.
Wendy Serrino
Founder and Board Chair
CARE FOR REAL : For nearly 50 years, Care for Real has been helping low income families and individuals in the Edgewater, Andersonville, Uptown, West Ridge and Bowmanville neighborhoods. Care for Real provides food, clothing and referral services, engaging the community to help neighbors in need.

CASA LAKE COUNTY : CASA Lake County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system. Trained volunteers work in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to represent children in the protective care system. 

CHICAGO FURNITURE BANK : The Chicago Furniture Bank provides dignity and comfort to Chicagoans moving into unfurnished, supportive housing by allowing them to handpick an entire home’s worth of furnishings. Chicago Furniture Bank furnishes 8 homes a day, all with donated furniture.

CHILDREN’S RESEARCH TRIANGLE : Chicago Research Triangle improves the quality of life for children with developmental, behavioral, psychological or educational challenges by providing mental healthcare to at-risk youth struggling with trauma in Chicago’s underserved communities. 

CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS : Connections for the Homeless works across the northern suburbs to prevent homelessness, shelter those in crisis and help individuals and families avoid imminent evictions. 

FAMILY PROMISE CHICAGO NORTH : Family Promise provides shelter, meals and supportive services to families in the Evanston-North Shore area who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They keep families intact and stable while they find affordable housing and secure employment. 

FAMILY SERVICE OF GLENCOE : Family Service of Glencoe promotes a stronger community by serving the individual and family needs of those living or working in Glencoe through counseling services that identify, prevent and resolve mental health issues. 

LA CASA NORTE : La Casa Norte serves youth and families confronting homelessness by providing access to permanent, transitional and emergency housing options as they work towards long-term stability and self-sufficiency. 

LAKEVIEW PANTRY : Lakeview Pantry has been supporting Chicago’s North Side communities for nearly 50 years by providing food to hungry people, increasing the independence of clients through self-help initiatives and working towards solutions to eliminate hunger and poverty.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK : Northern Illinois Food Bank works in conjunction with food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, group homes, schools and senior centers in a 13-county area, serving those struggling with hunger.

REFUGEEONE : RefugeeOne is the largest full-service resettlement agency in Chicago, helping refugees fleeing war, terror and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity and self-reliance. 

SARAH’S CIRCLE : Located in the Uptown neighborhood, Sarah’s Circle is a refuge for women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. They provide housing, case management, clinical and social services to help women rebuild themselves emotionally and physically.

SHARE OUR SPARE : Share Our Spare collects new and gently used items critical to the early years – diapers, wipes, personal care items, clothing and baby gear - and donates them to families living in poverty, allowing families to shift from crisis management to caregiving. 

THE NIGHT MINISTRY : Founded in 1976, The Night Ministry provides housing, healthcare and human connection to thousands of individuals and families struggling with poverty or homelessness. 

WINGS : WINGS is dedicated to providing housing, integrated services and advocacy to end domestic violence. Their two safe houses provide emergency shelter, safety, food and clothing for victims fleeing violent situations.