January & February Give Time, Give Things & Give Support

This month's picks for people, places and things with which you can make a difference:

Give Time:

Fair Housing Tester

Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs | Winnetka | interfaithhousingcenter.org

Committed individuals are needed to fight discrimination in Chicago's northern suburbs. Volunteer fair housing testers pose as home-seekers. Their reported factual observations help Interfaith Housing Center collect data about possible patterns of housing discrimination. People of all physical abilities, from all ethnic and racial groups, are strongly encouraged to apply. Training sessions take place in Winnetka, and volunteers receive a modest stipend. Contact Viki Rivkin at 847-501-2029, x408, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Urban Initiatives | Chicago | urbaninitiatives.org

Volunteer Assistant Coach needed to serve at a Chicago location and commit to at least one hour per week for an eight-week season. Responsibilities include working with first through fourth graders at one of the participating schools and promoting Urban Initiatives' goals of academic achievement, physical fitness, health education and character development. Winter season runs January 31-March 25; spring season runs April 4-June 9. Interested volunteers should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Adaptive Swim Instructors

Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) | Lake Forest | glasa.org

Adaptive Swim Instructors needed. Individuals with swim experience are invited to instruct and coach youth and adults with physical or visual impairments. Volunteers should be at least 14 years of age, mature, dependable and have an outgoing personality, with the ability to interact with coaches and engage the athletes. The swim programs are located at the Great Lakes Naval Base on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., and the Central Lake YMCA in Vernon Hills on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Contact Cindy Clement at 847-283-0908 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Give Things

Formal dresses and accessories

Glass Slipper Project | Chicago  | glassslipperproject.org

The Glass Slipper Project collects new and almost-new formal dresses and accessories and provides them, free of charge, to Chicago high school students who are unable to purchase their own prom attire. As part of its commitment to the Glass Slipper Project, Zengeler Cleaners cleans, presses and makes minor repairs to the dresses. Drop off your dresses and accessories anytime between now and March 10 at any of the seven Zengeler Cleaners locations. Locations and hours at zenglercleaners.com.

Personal care, office and cleaning products

Journeys from PADS to HOPE | Palatine  | padstohope.org

Items needed: Cleaning supplies, condiment packets, personal care products, paper/plastic products, and office supplies. Journeys from PADS to HOPE assists men, women, and families in northwest suburban Cook County who have become or are at-risk of becoming homeless. As the days get colder, Journeys from PADS to HOPE opens 19 faith-based shelters, each providing a warm place to sleep and hot meals.
Donations may be dropped off in the rear entrance of the Palatine office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Clothing, linens and shoes

YWCA Lake County | Waukegan | ywcalakecounty.org

Unwanted but usable clothing, linens and shoes can be collected to benefit the YWCA Lake County. Clothing items that might otherwise be thrown away in landfills are sold in three thrift stores operated in Chicago. These stores provide jobs as well as lower priced goods in low-income areas. The YWCA truck will be coming to your neighborhood soon. If you want to be on the call list, let them know by calling 773-486-8010.

Give Support

Keep theater from closing

Skokie Theatre Music Foundation | Skokie | skokietheatre.org

The Skokie Theatre is threatened with foreclosure. To continue presenting great concert artists, they need your financial donation. The 140-seat theatre is an intimate performance space providing a world-class venue for musicians, and a permanent home for the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation. See a show and help support the Skokie Theatre or send a donation to The North Suburban Business Development Foundation of the Skokie Chamber Of Commerce. Make checks payable to: N.S.B.D.F. of the S.C. of C., (please put Skokie Theatre on the memo line), and mail to Skokie Chamber Of Commerce, P.O. Box 106, Skokie, IL 60077.

Empower children through music

Intonation Music Workshop | Chicago | intonationmusicworkshop.org

The Intonation Music Workshop empowers children through innovative music education. Using donated instruments and a unique pop band curriculum, the after-school music program provides kids ages 6 to 17 in Chicago’s underserved communities with access to instruction and performance opportunities in a safe and positive environment. To make a financial donation, or, for musicians interested in donating their time through instruction, call or email Mike Simons, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ..

Sports and leadership programs for girls

Girls in the Game | Chicago | girlsinthegame.org
Plan to attend the Girls in the Game gala event March 3, 5:30-9 p.m. at the Marriott Downtown Chicago. Funds raised enable Girls in the Game to provide year-round comprehensive sports, health and leadership programs for thousands of girls across Chicago. Donated silent auction items are welcomed. Contact Dawn Kobel at 312-633-4263.

Spotlight on Women’s Heart Health

Empower women’s heart health

American Heart Association | goredforwomen.org

Attend the Go Red For Women Luncheon on February 25 at the Palmer House to raise funds for Go Red For Women—a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. To reserve a seat or table at a Go Red For Women luncheon, contact the Greater Chicago Chapter of the American Heart Association at 312-346-4675.

Support for women with heart disease

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
877-771-0030 | womenheart.org

WomenHeart—founded by three women heart attack survivors dedicated to promoting women’s heart health—provides support services to women with heart disease and educates policymakers, health professionals and the public about the urgent need to make women’s heart health a priority. Donations to WomenHeart support advocacy, education and patient support programs on behalf of the 44 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease.

Sponsor a heart

“Hearts A Bluhm”
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
675 N. Saint Clair St., 19th Floor, Ste. 100, Chicago
312-695-4965

Hearts a Bluhm will place 100 oversized acrylic hearts on public sidewalks, planters and thoroughfares. Each heart will be creatively embellished and painted by a sponsoring organization or company and will be accompanied by a heart health education tip. Heart sponsorships range from $2,500 to $10,000. After the exhibit, sponsors will own their "heart.” Proceeds from the sale of the hearts will benefit cardiovascular programs at Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, as well as art scholarships at Columbia College Chicago. For more information contact Kris Lathan at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 312-926-2963.