Looking for a toy giveaway to donate to this holiday season? Check out these five Chicago organizations
If you’re looking for a way to give back to Chicago families in need during the holiday season, consider donating or buying gifts to aid the efforts of some of Chicago’s Black-led organizations, initiatives and causes that are directly serving Black and other people of color.
Not sure where to donate? The TRiiBE’s got you covered. Here’s a list of five toy giveaways and organizations that can use our assistance during the holiday 2022 season.
Moms United against Violence and incarceration
Accepting donations through Dec. 14
Holiday Solidarity Toy & Teen Gift Drive
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MomsUnitedChi/
Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration is a nonprofit organization that builds the collective strength and power of mothers directly impacted by racial and economic injustice in Chicago. The organization is hosting its annual holiday solidarity toy and teen gift drive; gifts are sent directly to prisons, jails and transitional sites in Illinois — such as the Cook County Jail — so parents can choose gifts for their children for the holiday season. You can find the Target registry here.
SocialWorks
Dec. 16
The Museum of Science & Industry
5700 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.socialworkschi.org/
Chance the Rapper’s, SocialWorks will host its fourth annual Night at the Museum Event at the Museum of Science and Industry. There will be 50+ event-only vendors, activations, performers and opportunities for guests to donate to SocialWorks’ Warmest Winter Initiative. The Warmest Winter Initiative provides relief to people in Chicago experiencing homelessness through service, events and direct support. Guests attending the event are encouraged to bring coats, scarves, gloves, toys and hygiene items for the Warmest Winter Initiative. The link to purchase tickets for the event is here.
gifts for guardians toy drive
Dec. 18
Johnson College Prep
6350 South Stewart Street
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.portiaking.com/gifts-for-guardians
The Gifts for Guardians Toy Drive — an initiative founded by South Side native and multimedia host Portia King — is back for its second year. The holiday event is for parents and guardians of children in low-income households and underserved communities. Parents and guardians can select and wrap toys to give to their children on Christmas Day. The event’s goal is to empower parents experiencing financial hardship by allowing them to surprise and gift their children with toys during the holiday season. In addition to wrapping and selecting gifts, the Gifts for Guardians Toy Drive will also include refreshments, music and more. Registration is required for the event. Here is the link to register, and here is the link to volunteer or donate to the cause.
Black village foundation
Annual West Side 5,000 Toy Giveaway
Dec. 23, at 10:00 am
4525 West Madison Street
Website: https://blackvillagefoundation.org/
The Black Village Foundation is hosting its annual toy giveaway for the holiday season. The organization will be giving away 5,000 toys and hosting a Winter Wonderland with food, game trucks, arts and crafts, and live entertainment. The Black Village Foundation’s mission is to build Black wealth by providing small-business grants to underserved communities on the South and West sides.
Chigivesback, inc.
Email: contact@chigivesback.com
Website: https://www.chigivesback.com/
ChiGivesBack is a non-profit that’s all about paying it forward to those in need. ChiGivesBack will host its sixth annual toy drive, the “Chicagoland Toy Drive,” to collect gifts for children in the Chicago area. In previous years, the organization has provided nearly 15,000 toys for children who might not have received gifts during the holiday season. ChiGivesBack will donate toys to organizations like the Department of Children & Family Services, South Side YMCA, Mercy Home for Boys and the Neopolitan Lighthouse for Battered Women. Details about how to donate to the Chicagoland Toy Drive can be found here.