The holiday season is a time for giving. What better way to give than to give back to others in need in Naperville? Not only does it help Naperville grow stronger, but if you involve your children, it gives them a lifelong lesson in the importance of helping others when you can. With that in mind, here are ways you and your family can get involved in giving back in Naperville this holiday season ... and all year long.
Know of a toy, clothing, or food drive we missed or a volunteer opportunity Naperville we left out? Let us know by sending an email to maryannep@macaronikid.com and we'll add it to our list!
Donating toys, clothes, or food in Naperville
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Toy Drives in Naperville
Cal's Angel's
Details: Join Cal's Angels in Collecting Toys and Gift Cards to Help Kid's with Cancer! Cal’s Angels is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission of granting wishes, raising awareness and funding research to help kids fighting cancer. The toys and gift cards collected during our annual Toy Drive will be handed out to children and their siblings by Cal’s Angels at hospital parties hosted monthly at all Chicagoland Children’s Hospitals. New and unwrapped gifts. No stuffed animals. See specific requests on website.
How to donate: Drop off locations will be announced soon on the website.
Have questions? Additional information can be found on the website by clicking here.
Toys for Tots
Details: Members of the Naperville Park District Police invite the community to contribute new, unwrapped toys for the 2021 DuPage County Toys for Tots program, hosted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Please do not donate stuffed animals or toy weapons.
How to donate: Toys can be dropped at various sites. Click here for details.
Have questions? Click here for questions.
Toy Drive-Naperville Sunrise Rotary Hosts Holiday Drive
Details: Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise is holding a Holiday Drive-By Drop-off food and toy drive on Friday, November 20 from 8:30-10 AM in front of Naperville Country Club, the Club’s regular meeting place. Collecting new and unwrapped toys. The no-contact event is planned to support West Suburban Community Pantry which serves over 500 families each week from Naperville, Lisle, Woodridge, Bolingbrook, Westmont, Willowbrook and Romeoville.
How to donate: Naperville Country Club at 25W570 Chicago Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Have questions? For additional information or to donate to West Suburban Community Pantry visit www.wscpantry.org.
Clothing Drives in Naperville |
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Cradle to Crayons
Details: Our mission comes to life by engaging and connecting the community! You can help by donating a wide range of new and gently-used goods that are appropriate for use by children ages newborn to 12. We believe that QUALITY = DIGNITY. Before making a donation, please ensure that your gently-used items are high-quality: not ripped, stained, or quality compromised in any way. Most needed items: winter coats and warm clothing sizes newborn to adult medium, winter boots sizes infant/toddler 5 to adult 10, winter hats, gloves, scarves and
pajamas size 2T to adult medium.
How to donate: Bank of America, 1301 E. Ogden Ave, Naperville, IL 60563. Donation shed located in parking lot.
Have questions? More information can be found on the website by clicking here.
Infant Welfare Society's Angel Harvey Family Health Center in Chicago.
Details: This year's Annual Coat Drive, in conjunction with CD One Price Cleaners, is fast approaching! As in the past, we will be distributing coats to the families of the Infant Welfare Society's Angel Harvey Family Health Center in Chicago.
To participate in our annual coat drive, please bring your "gently" used winter coats to any CD One Price Cleaners location between October 13th and November 13th. CD One Price Cleaners will clean and deliver the coats to the Angel Harvey Family Health Center to be distributed to families towards the end of November.
We will also be collecting donations of new coats, hats, mitten, scarves, and gloves. Wheaton-Naperville Infant Welfare members and friends may donate new items to the co-chairs of this event or contact us at secretary@wheatoninfantwelfare.org to arrange for pickup or drop-off.
How to donate: CD One Price Cleaners 340 E Ogden Ave. Naperville, Illinois 60563 or 1592 W. Ogden Ave Naperville, Illinois 60540
Have questions? For more information check the website by clicking here.
Metropolitan Family Services
Details: Donate to our Second Chance Resale Shops. Got stuff? We welcome you to bring your gently used clothing, dishes, housewares, linens, jewelry, accessories and other miscellaneous items to our two Second Chance Resale Shops. Your donation will generate revenue to support our programs. In addition, our clients can shop at no charge to replace the items they have had to leave behind. Store sales go to support Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage programs for victims of domestic abuse.
How to donate: Resale Shop, 1512 N Naper Blvd #172, Naperville, IL
Have questions? Further details can be found at the website by clicking here.
Food Drives in Naperville |
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Loaves and Fishes
Details: Food donations are accepted at the Loaves & Fishes location during all regular business hours. Volunteers will be available to help unload your vehicle. Please make an appointment if you plan to drop off food outside of open hours. When contributing foods to Loaves & Fishes, please select commercially packaged food items in cans or unbreakable containers. Consider donating healthy, low-fat and low-sugar products that our families are sure to appreciate and enjoy. Loaves & Fishes cannot distribute:
open or used items, foods in rusty, severely damaged or unlabeled containers, outdated or expired food items, homemade canned goods or re-packaged goods, prepared foods that are unpackaged, alcoholic beverages, prescriptive medical supplements.
PLEASE do not leave perishable food items in food collection bins without notifying an attendant.
How to donate: Loaves and Fishes, 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville, IL 60540
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
West Suburban Community Pantry
Details: Advanced Health of Naperville will hold a food drive for the West Suburban Community Pantry. We will have a few bins out at our practice to collect nonperishable food items for the next few weeks and we will get them to the pantry in time for Thanksgiving. We will also be collecting donations if you would prefer to give a monetary gift.
How to donate: Advanced Health of Naperville, 1767 West Ogden Ave, Suite 143, Naperville, IL 60540
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Giving |
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DuPage Pads
How to donate: For 35 years, DuPagePads has remained a beacon of hope for those with little or no support while experiencing homelessness. Now more than ever, our mission to end homelessness has become critical to the health and well-being of our community.
The mission of DuPagePads is to end homelessness in DuPage County, Illinois. Our signature year-round programs feed and shelter individuals and families who are homeless, connect them to case management and other services that can address the underlying cause of their homelessness.
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Hesed House
Details: Hesed House’s mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again. Hesed House is a national model for ending homelessness – one person, one family at a time.
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Meals on Wheels
Details: We like to think that seniors are enjoying their golden years surrounded by family and friends. But increasingly, seniors are living alone and in need of others to get through their days. From increased social isolation to worry about their next meal, seniors depend on DuPage Senior Citizens Council to meet their needs.
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Operation Christmas Child
Details: Since 1993, over 188 million boys and girls in over 160 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ. Instructions on how to pack a shoebox can be found here.
How to donate: Drop off locations can be found here.
Have questions? More details can be found at the website by clicking here.
Ronald McDonald House
Details: Directly inside the Pediatric Unit and only steps away from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, our Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital in Naperville keeps you close to your child when they need you most. Two bedrooms with private bathrooms, access to a family restroom with shower, children’s playroom, kitchen and living spaces and easy access to Edward Hospital Pediatric Unit.
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Program
Details: The holidays should be a magical time, especially for children who often dream of the wonderful things they’ll find under their tree. Sadly, many children throughout the greater Chicagoland area won’t even have a Christmas tree, much less presents to open.
To ensure that all children, teens, and seniors have a gift to open for Christmas, The Salvation Army identifies families in need through our corps community centers and social service programs. Donors purchase requested gifts for these individuals and the Army provides each family a box full of special foods for the holiday season, ensuring that everyone has a Merry Christmas.
How to donate: October 1, 2021-December 15, 2021
Have questions? Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Donating Time in Naperville |
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Donating time in Naperville |
Looking to volunteer your family's time this holiday season in Naperville? Here are some local organizations that welcome help:
Feed My Starving Children
Details: Kids and adults of all ages hand-pack nutritious MannaPack® meals specifically designed to assist in reversing and preventing undernutrition. Volunteering occurs at our permanent sites and hundreds of MobilePack™ events nationwide.
How to get started: Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
Inside Out Club
Details: Why volunteer as a family? According to Parents.com, the benefits are enormous. Volunteering teaches even toddlers and preschoolers about compassion, empathy, tolerance, gratitude and community responsibility. Inside Out Club brings families together to connect to each other and support their community through volunteerism. These stand-alone events are designed for families with children ages 3-12 and take place 18-22 times a year.
How to get started: How to get started: Details can be found on the website by clicking here.
