The holidays are a wonderful time to see loved ones, exchange gifts, and reflect on the blessings of the year. For families who are financially struggling, this time of year can be very stressful and isolating. If you are looking for opportunities to give to those in need this holiday season, here is a handy list of all the places you can donate.
Bright Eyes Family Vision - Our annual Donate for a Discount program in November, benefiting local food pantries, combines the warm feeling of giving with a discount at our optical! Save 10% for every donated item (up to 40%) on the purchase of a complete pair of glasses. Your discount can be used on non-insurance purchases only, so this is a great time to come in for that second pair of glasses or sunglasses!
St. Mary’s Catholic Church Giving Tree - In late November and all of December, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Huntley decorates their Christmas tree with the wishes of families in the area. Families who are being helped by various charitable organizations have the opportunity to write their Christmas wishes on a paper mitten to be hung on the tree in the foyer. Anyone can take one or more mittens and return with the wrapped gifts. Make sure to secure the wish mitten to the top of the present so the church knows who it’s for!
D300 Food Pantry - The D300 Food Pantry is open every Wednesday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and is located at 100 Cleveland Avenue, Door 20, Carpentersville, IL. This food pantry assists all families with children in the D300 school district. They have many programs available for donations.
Most Needed Items - This list contains items that the food pantry is
short on. Items such as coffee, beans, rice, diapers, and other non-
perishable goods make this list.
Holiday Meal Box Shopping List - The food pantry is getting ready for
the holidays! On this list are staple items for holiday dinners that the
pantry needs to fill their meal boxes. Baking supplies, aluminum foil,
gravy packets, and canned vegetables are just a few of the items that
they need.
Sandy’s Stocking - If you’re looking to donate small toys or stocking
stuffers, this is the program for you! The stockings normally cost about
$10-$15 to stuff, and instructions, age range, and the stocking itself will
be provided by the food pantry. If you’d like to participate, email
donate@d300foodpantry.org to let them know how many stockings they
can expect from you! This is a great opportunity to get kids involved as
well!
PADS of Elgin Homeless Shelter - For families in crisis situations, PADS of Elgin is a great resource. To keep the shelter running smoothly, they need donations of paper goods, non-perishable food items, and clothing. Check out their immediate needs list and give the shelter a call if you’d like to donate your time to them as well!
Salvation Army Bell Ringers - Starting November 9th, you can sign up to be a bell ringer for The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army collects money outside of all our major grocery stores around the Pingree Grove area to give to charity. If you’d like to sign up for a bell ringing shift, follow the instructions on this link!
We will be on the lookout for more opportunities for you to give to those in need this holiday season! If you know of a charity that wasn’t listed, please comment down below with the details so we can add to our list!