Your donation of the following items will help us continue to provide food to the individuals and families served by The Night Ministry.

Meals for the Health Outreach Bus and The Crib Overnight Shelter

We are accepting prepacked meals and sack suppers to serve 50 to 100 people at our Health Outreach Bus, depending on the stop. Meals, which should be scheduled in advance, may be brought to our administrative office or dropped off at the Bus stop.

We are also accepting breakfast or dinner at The Crib on the weekend to feed 30 people. Meals may be dropped off at The Crib or sent by delivery, but should be scheduled in advance.

Please visit this link to see available dates to provide meals for the Health Outreach Bus or The Crib. Then contact Andrew Hart, Volunteer Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6033 with any questions and to make arrangements to provide meals.

Sack Suppers

Sack suppers, served at our Health Outreach Bus and through our Street Medicine Program and outreach on the CTA, should include sandwich (meat and cheese only, no condiments), chips, easy to eat fruit such as an orange or a banana or a fruit cup, and bottled water. Some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are appreciated, as well.

Please place only the chips and fruit items in a brown paper bag. Keep sandwiches separate as we often refrigerate them separately. Bottles of water may be kept in their original packaging case.

Please visit this link to see when we need sack suppers. Then contact Andrew Hart, Volunteer Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6033 to make donation and drop-off arrangements or for any questions.

Individual Food and Beverage Items

We distribute prepackaged individually packaged food and beverage items such as nut mixes, fruit and granola bars, and bottles of water to those whom we serve throughout our programs. Please consider donating the following:

• Nut and trail mix
• Fruit or granola bars
• Unsweetened apple sauce
• Bottled water
• Fruit cups
• Starkist Lunch-to Go packs
• Instant oatmeal
• Cereal
• Orange juice

Contact Andrew Hart, Volunteer Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6033 to make donation and drop-off arrangements or for any questions.

Join us as we share holiday magic with the individuals and families served by The Night Ministry! Throughout December, we’ll host gatherings across our programs that include food, cookies, hot chocolate, and gifts. You can contribute to the celebrations by donating presents for our clients such as clothing and gift cards. Please see important information about donating holiday celebration items below.

Gifts

Clothing for Young Adults (new only; adult sizes M-XL):

• Bath robes
• Slippers
• Pajama sets
• Hoodies
• Long underwear

These clothing items will be distributed to the young people served by our Youth Programs.

Winter Apparel (new only; adult sizes; dark colors preferred)

• Hats
• Scarves
• Gloves

These items will be distributed to individuals served by our Outreach Programs.

Gift Cards

• $5: McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, etc.
• $10: CVS, Walgreens, etc.
• $25: Target, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, etc.

Gift cards help provide The Night Ministry's clients with the means to purchase a meal, groceries, clothing, and more.

Next Steps

Please make arrangements to deliver stockings and gift items in advance. Contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to schedule a drop-off of your donation at our headquarters at 1735 North Ashland Avenue in Chicago. We will be accepting stockings and holiday gifts through Friday, December 9.

Help our clients stay warm as we enter the winter season. We are seeking donations of the following items:

• Hats (handmade or store bought in adult sizes, new only)
• Gloves (handmade or store bought in adult sizes, new only)
• Scarves (handmade or store bought in adult sizes, new only)
• Thermal socks (adult sizes)
• Thermal underwear (men’s sizes M-2XL, new or very gently used)
• Coats (men’s sizes M-2XL are the priority; also accepting women’s sizes M-2XL; water repellant materials preferred)
• Boots (men’s sizes 10-13+; women’s sizes 8-10, including half sizes; water repellant materials preferred)
• Hand & toe warmers
• Rain ponchos

Next Steps

Contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make donation arrangements. We kindly ask that donation drop-offs be scheduled in advance so we can ensure staff are available to greet you.

Clothing items go a long way in bringing comfort to our clients. Please be thoughtful when selecting clothing and shoes to donate. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't give it to a friend to wear, you may want to reconsider donating it.

We ask that all clothing be freshly laundered and free of stains, tears, pet fur, and odors.

We are currently accepting the following items:

• Unopened packages of new adult-size socks (white or black crew cut preferred)
• New or gently used men's sweatpants (dark colors preferred; sizes M-2XL)
• New or gently used men’s t-shirts (sizes M-2XL, short and long sleeve)
• Unopened packages of new adult-size underwear (dark colors preferred; men's boxer briefs, sizes M-XXL; women's briefs, sizes S-XL)
• New or gently used adult-size sweatshirts/hoodies (dark colors preferred, sizes medium to XXX-large)

We have created an Amazon Wish List to make purchasing some of these items for donation convenient. You are not, however, required to purchase them through Amazon.

We cannot accept the following items at any time:

• Used or opened packages of underwear, bras, or socks
• Professional clothing, including dress shirts, suits, dresses, blouses, sweaters
• Trend-forward clothing, like off-the-shoulder tops, crop tops, jerseys, etc.
• Dress shoes, heels, slip-ons, sandals, or slippers
• Workout clothing, tights, or swimsuits
• Accessories like belts, jewelry, purses, or fashion hats (only basic baseball caps or winter hats)

Next Steps

Contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make donation arrangements. We kindly ask that donation drop-offs be scheduled in advance so we can ensure staff are available to greet you.

If ordering from Amazon, please send to the following address:

The Night Ministry
1735 North Ashland Avenue
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60622
773-784-9000

Please note that we do not receive any information from Amazon when an in-kind donation is made via our Amazon Wishlist. If you would like to receive an acknowledgement of your donation, you must This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inform her of your order.

We distribute hygiene and personal care products throughout our programs to shelter residents and outreach clients. We ask that all products be unused and unexpired. Please be thoughtful when selecting toiletries to donate; if you wouldn't use the product yourself, you may want to reconsider donating it.

We accept the following items in full or travel size unless otherwise noted:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair products for curly or textured hair
• Body wash/bar soap
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush (full size only)
• Toothpaste (must be unexpired)
• Mouthwash (must be unexpired)
• Lip balm
• Comb/brush (wide tooth combs preferred)
• Disposable body wipes (bath wipes, not sanitizing)

Hygiene and personal care products may be collected in zip-lock plastic bags or donated separately.

We cannot accept the following items:

• Menstrual products of any kind (we have a surplus and don't distribute very many)
• Makeup or perfumes
• Hair products like gel, hairspray, or hair dye

Next Steps

Please contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make donation arrangements. We kindly ask that donation drop-offs be scheduled in advance so we can ensure staff are available to greet you.

Gift cards provide our clients with the means to purchase clothing, groceries, or a meal while Ventra passes allow them to get to school, work, and job interviews. Any denomination is appreciated, but all gift cards must be physical cards.

• Grocery/General Household
  Aldi, Jewel-Osco, Target, Walmart
• Pharmacy/Convenience Store
  CVS, Walgreens
• Fast Food
  McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts*, Subway*, Starbucks*
• Ventra Passes
  Single-ride passes for transit on the CTA and Pace
• Miscellaneous
  
  • Visa/Mastercard gift cards
  • Gas station gift cards

*Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, and Subway gift cards may be purchased online and sent to The Night Ministry. If ordering Dunkin Donuts, please select "Send a physical card."

Next Steps

Please contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make donation arrangements. We kindly ask that donation drop-offs be scheduled in advance so we can ensure staff are available to greet you.

The following are crucial supplies for unsheltered individuals.

• Hand and foot warmers
• New or gently used tents (the more compact, the better)
• New or gently used sleeping bags (the more compact, the better)
• New or gently used blankets
• New or gently used backpacks

We have created an Amazon Wish List to make purchasing tents, sleeping bags, and blankets convenient. You are not, however, required to purchase them through Amazon.

We cannot accept the following items:

• Camp stoves or other outdoor cooking gear
• Propane bottles or lighter fluid
• Folding chairs

Next Steps

Please contact Stephanie Cascio, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make donation arrangements. We kindly ask that donation drop-offs be scheduled in advance so we can ensure staff are available to greet you.

If ordering from Amazon, please send to the following address:

The Night Ministry
1735 North Ashland Avenue
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60622
773-784-9000

Please note that we do not receive any information from Amazon when an in-kind donation is made via our Amazon Wishlist. If you would like to receive an acknowledgement of your donation, you must This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inform her of your order.