3) Brown Elephant Northalsted (812 W Belmont) / Howard Brown Health (3501 N Halsted)

About: Brown Elephant Resale Shops in partnership with Howard Brown Health raises money through the resale of donated items. Drop-off donations can be accepted during regular business hours, at any of the three Brown Elephant locations. They also offer curbside pickup for furniture or a limited amount of household goods. All items must be clean and free from tears, stains, and damage. They respectfully request that all clothing be freshly cleaned/laundered prior to donation, without hangers.

Needs: For a full list of Brown Elephant’s accepted and not-accepted items, click here.

Howard Brown Health provides affirming healthcare and mobilizes for social justice. Howard Brown serves men, women, trans and gender non-conforming folks, infants, youth, and children through a multi-site operation based in Chicago. They also offer discounted services to patients that are uninsured and meet certain income qualifications. All proceeds at Brown Elephant support LGBTQ+ healthcare and fund care for the uninsured and under-insured at Howard Brown Health. To donate to Howard Brown, click here for options.

4) Out of the Closet (3311 N Halsted)

About: Out of the Closet Thrift Store (OTC) was founded in 1990 to help raise funds and awareness for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. To this day, when you shop or donate at Out of the Closet, 96 cents of every dollar made goes to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s HIV prevention and treatment services. That’s why OTC is able to offer high-quality HIV testing services at all of our locations.

Needs: Out of the Closet Thrift Store accepts a wide range of donations, including furniture, kitchenware, home decor, appliances, electronics, tools, musical instruments, clothing, shoes (teen & adult sizes only), books, film & TV memorabilia, CDs & records, and artwork. Currently, they cannot accept mattresses, water beds, bedding & linens, towels, medical supplies, built-in appliances, children’s toys & books (varies per location), TV sets and appliances that are over three years old, printers, scanners, fax machines, children’s clothing & accessories, or office furniture/corporate items. You can donate in-store at 3311 N Halsted, or schedule a pickup for large item donations.

5) H.O.M.E. – Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (945 W George)

About: H.O.M.E. is a nonprofit organization that provides housing support services and intergenerational housing for seniors with low incomes. Without their services, many seniors would be unnecessarily living in nursing homes, living in their homes in unsafe conditions, and trying to survive without access to food or medication.

Needs: Click here to make a monetary donation. Click here to volunteer.

6) Ascension Illinois Health Housing and Health Alliance – By Ascension Healthcare (825 W Wellington)

About: Ascension Illinois Housing and Health Alliance offers individuals experiencing poverty, addiction, mental health issues, or chronic health conditions a fresh start through stable housing. Their services include highly structured housing, independent permanent housing, transitional living environments, and aftercare programs. There are many ways you can help the Ascension Illinois Housing and Health Alliance support people overcoming homelessness, chronic disease, disability and behavioral health conditions.
Needs: Consider donating your time as a volunteer or making a gift through the Ascension Illinois Foundation.

7) Thresholds (Various Locations)

About: Thresholds is the largest provider of supported housing in Illinois, and their residential programs offer a variety of community-based options for persons with serious mental health and substance use conditions, including those exiting homelessness. Thresholds operates several brick-and-mortar facilities in the 44th Ward. Learn more about their housing programs here.

Here in Lakeview at 1100 W Belmont, the Thresholds Mothers Project has provided comprehensive assistance to mothers with mental health challenges and their children since 1976. Parents in their program are working to provide safe, healthy and nurturing environments for their children, while also receiving support with mental illness, homelessness, and/or the effects of abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences, As most are also making the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, The Mothers Project focuses on the acquisition of independent living skills, in addition to providing education and support to develop healthy parenting skills.

Needs: Learn about volunteering or making a monetary donation here.

8) Mount Sinai Resale Shop (2902 N Clark)

About: The Mount Sinai Hospital Woman’s Board Resale Shop raises money for the hospital’s patient care programs.

Needs: Clothing and houseware items can be donated during store hours via blue bins outside. Furniture needs prior approval. To get approval, you can send photos of items with a description (brand, condition, etc) to 773-925-3201. Store hours are Monday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm.

9) Dignity Diner at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church (925 W Diversey)

About: The Dignity Diner, located inside the Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, has been serving free, restaurant-style, three-course meals every Tuesday evening since 1992. These meals are a vital resource to our neighbors experiencing homelessness or food insecurity and are served with kindness, respect, and of course, dignity. Meals are served rain or shine and on holidays to about 50-60 guests each week.

Needs: Coffee, heavy duty paper plates, utensils, cups, backpacks, socks, shoes, and more. Email dignity.diner@holycovenantumc.org to donate supplies. You can donate here and volunteer via Facebook here.

10) Chabad of East Lakeview (615 W Wellington)

About: The Chabad of East Lakeview is a vibrant Jewish center located in the heart of our Lakeview neighborhood. Regardless of your background or affiliation, join Chabad of East Lakeview for uplifting Friday night dinners and services, adult education offerings, Jewish learning, and holiday celebrations.

Needs: To explore the various ways to support Chabad of East Lakeview, click here.

11) AIDS Garden Chicago (Near 3100 N Lake Shore Drive)

About: AIDS Garden Chicago is the city’s first public monument to memorialize the early days of Chicago’s HIV epidemic, and to honor those who continue to fight against the disease today. This 2.5 acre “park with purpose” is built along Lake Michigan just south of Belmont Harbor at the original location of the historic Belmont Rocks gathering spot.

Needs: To support AIDS Garden Chicago, click here.

12) Chicago Duplicate Bridge (2828 N Clark)

About: Chicago Duplicate Bridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to encouraging and facilitating the growth of the game of bridge in Chicago. Located in the Century Mall at 2828 N Clark, the club offers regular games, lessons, and supervised play for players of all experience levels. With a mission to promote learning, skill-building, and community through bridge, Chicago Duplicate Bridge welcomes newcomers and seasoned players alike, providing opportunities for social connection, friendly competition, and ongoing education in the game. To learn more, click here.

Needs: Paper goods including paper towels, plates, and cups; canned soda/bottled water and individually wrapped snacks.

13) Forever Fortunate Felines (3046 N Halsted and Citywide)

About: Forever Fortunate Felines (FFF) is a volunteer-run, foster-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing cats from animal control facilities and placing them in loving homes. Based in Chicago and working with partners across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Kentucky, the organization prioritizes removing cats from stressful shelter environments and placing them in foster care or other temporary facilities where they can socialize with people and other animals. Foster parents get to know each cat’s personality and needs, and FFF operates a transparent and well-matched adoption process. You can meet some of their adoptable cats at their adoption center inside the local Petco at 3046 N Halsted (and other Petco/Petsmart locations across the city), and even sign up to volunteer there or foster at home!

Needs: Forever Fortunate Felines maintains a Kitten Season Wishlist, an Amazon Wishlist, and a Chewy Wishlist to help provide supplies for the cats in their care.

14) 19th District Mutual Aid Group

About: The 19th District Mutual Aid Group is a grassroots network that provides direct support to migrant families and vulnerable neighbors in our community. In Resurrection Lutheran Church in Lakeview, volunteers collect, sort, and distribute donations directly to shelter residents and new arrivals. Efforts include clothing drives, emergency supplies, legal aid clinics, and Know Your Rights trainings—all aimed at helping neighbors meet needs with dignity and compassion.

Needs: Men’s coats, school clothes for children (ages 6–14), underwear and socks, sweatpants/leggings, sneakers in youth and small adult sizes, and large suitcases or backpacks. Toiletries (soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant), menstrual pads, diapers, baby wipes, powdered milk, bedding, and bath towels are also in high demand. See dropoff instructions and a full list of needed items here, and their Amazon Wishlist here. Volunteers are always needed to sort and deliver items, and financial donations help sustain legal clinics and rental assistance programs.

44th Ward Schools & Neighborhood Associations

Neighborhood Associations – To donate to various neighborhood associations of the 44^th Ward, please ​contact them below below:

Organizations Near/Outside The 44th Ward

• School Supplies/Children’s Supplies
  • Back 2 School America (1946 W Irving Park)
• Books
  • Books 4 Cause (2931 N Milwaukee) – Books
• Food products
  • Nourishing Hope (5151 N Ravenswood – Unopened/unexpired/non-perishable food products and personal hygiene, bathroom, and cleaning supplies)
  • Common Pantry (3908 N Lincoln)
  • The Night Ministry (1735 N Ashland) – Food products, clothing, and hygiene/personal care
• Pet supplies
  • Chicago Animal Care & Control (2741 S Western Ave) – Wish List
    Chicago Canine Rescue (5272 N Elston) – Cleaning/shelter supplies, dog food, toys, medical supplies, office supplies, and more
  • PAWS Chicago (1997 N Clybourn) – Amazon Wish List, Chewy Wish List
• Clothing/Home Goods
  • Cornerstone Community Outreach (4628 N Clifton) – Amazon Wish List
  • Cradles to Crayons (2500 W Bradley)
• General/Volunteering
  • Third Space (716 W Addison)
  • Lakeview Orchestra (2936 N Southport)