Hot weather can be a challenge for individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty. Help them stay cool and protected this summer by donating the following essentials:

• Restaurant and Fast Food Gift Cards
  These gift cards are crucial during a heat wave, providing access to an air-conditioned space in addition to a meal. We are accepting gift cards in $5 to $10 amounts from the following:
  • Burger King
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • McDonald's
  • Starbucks
  • Subway
• New white crew socks, all adult sizes
• New white t-shirts in adult sizes M to 2XL
• Bug spray in regular or travel size
• Sunscreen in regular or travel size, SPF 30+

Next Steps

Please contact Miranda Dean, 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 or for more information.

Hygiene products are distributed throughout our programs. We accept the following items in travel or sample size. You may collect all of them and assemble into kits packed into gallon-size resealable bags or donate loose items.

• shampoo
• conditioner
• deodorant (travel or regular size)
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• soap
• body lotion
• mouthwash
• lip balm
• comb/brush
• disposable razor
• shaving cream
• wash cloth
• disposable body wipes
• sunscreen

Next Steps

Please contact Miranda Dean, 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.

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.

• Grocery/General Household
  • $25: Target, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, Mariano's
  • $10: Jewel-Osco, Mariano's

• Drug/Convenience Store
  • $10-25: Family Dollar, CVS, Walgreens

• Fast Food
  • $5-10: McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts*, Subway*, Starbucks*

• Ventra
  • Single ride Ventra passes for transit on CTA/Pace

• Visa Gift Cards
  • Gift cards of any amount

*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

Gift cards may be sent to us via U.S. mail at

The Night Ministry
1735 North Ashland Avenue
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60622

To make other arrangements to donate gift cards, please contact Miranda Dean, Resource Coordinator, at 773-506-6022 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Clothing items go a long way in bringing comfort to those whom we serve. We are in need of the following items:

• New adult-size sweatshirts/hoodies (dark colors preferred, sizes medium to XXX-large)
• New adult-size sweatpants (dark colors preferred, sizes medium to XXX-large)
• New or gently used men's shoes or boots, sizes 11 to 13
• Packages of new white or black adult-size adult socks
• Packages of new adult-size underwear (no bikinis, please)
• New adult-size white t-shirts

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

Next Steps

Please contact Miranda Dean, 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.

If ordering from Amazon, please inform Miranda of your order and send to the following address:

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

Your donation of the following items will help us continue to provide meals 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 served by your group alongside the Bus, dropped off at the stop, or brought to our administrative office.

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, 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.

Disposable Utensils and Carryout Containers

To support health and safety measures during the pandemic, we are using disposable utensils at The Crib overnight shelter. We are also utilizing styrofoam take-out containers for leftovers and for guests to take meals on-the-go. If you are able to donate these supplies, please contact Miranda Dean, Resource Coordinator, at 773-506-6022 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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

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

Next Steps

Please contact Miranda Dean, 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.

If ordering from Amazon, please inform Miranda of your order and send to the following address:

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