Midwest sensibilities paired with Big City living makes Chicago a unique fusion of people, economies, and cultures. The Windy City is home to an impressive amount of recreation centers, museums, parks, and social spaces. These public institutions foster such a strong sense of community involvement and activity, it’s little wonder that Chicago holds such strong national appeal.
Yet some of Chicago’s most valuable citizens, its children, aren’t always reached by consistent economic rise or other indicators of progress. Even though Chicago’s government offices and nationally renowned institutions have teams of community organizers working to ensure a better future for our kids, it’s a self-evident truth that a city is only as strong as its people. Fortunately, ChiTown is chock-full of selfless individuals more than willing to lend a helping hand where it matters most.
ConsumersAdvocate.org would like to introduce you to our top choices for youth-oriented organizations that are committed, day-in and day-out, to fostering and developing Chicago’s youth. These are the people doing the hard work. These are the organizations (some large, some small, all in need of help), that are strengthening Chicago at its foundation, and providing aid where it’s most needed.
Should you have an extra moment in your week, an encouraging word, an extra dollar in your pocket, or a beneficial skill a child might use in the future (tutoring, story-telling, juggling, cooking, knitting, wood-working, etc.) many of the organizations below could use your help.
Image: Trevor van Riemsdyk and Vinnie Hinostroza working with the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation and Cradles to Crayons to clothe Chicago youth. (source)
Most people probably don’t think about how a lack of basic needs items can affect a child. In fact, lacking clothes and shoes that fit can have a negative impact on children’s schoolwork, self-esteem, and social skills. It can even make them targets for playground bullies. Lynn Margherio founded Cradles to Crayons in 2002 to provide clothing, shoes, books, toys, school supplies and more to children experiencing homelessness or low-income situations. Reaching more than 1 million kids in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, Cradles to Crayons gathers clothing and other children’s items from grassroots collection drives and corporate donations and distributes them to children aged 0-12 through a collaborative network of social service agencies. The organization also offers a leadership training program for middle and high school students teaching them how to design and implement their own community outreach programs while building community partnerships. To find a drop-off site near you, make a pledge, or volunteer visit CradlesToCrayons.org/Chicago or call (312) 767-1008.
Read full article here: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/features/chicago-kids-guide