FPCE HELPS
Serving in the Name of Jesus!
Opportunities to serve Those in need at First Pres, In Evanston and Beyond!
We’re living in a time of particularly great need for food and clothing resources among those living right around us (some even on our very doorstep). This page offers variety of practical opportunities for those looking to reach out, as Christ instructs, to serve those less fortunate than us.
The Evanston Mutual Aid Distribution Signup is a great place to find regular opportunities to help with the practical needs of getting food where it needs to go around the area.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C44ABAA22A5F58-60191107-community#/
Special thanks to Evangelene Bose who compiled this page’s information!
First Pres Ministries that Help Locally
- Souper Saturday – Our weekly soup kitchen, taking place each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Learn more here.
- Regular Charitable Collections at FPCE – Throughout the year, FPCE holds a variety of drives to collect items for those in need. The best place to learn about whether or not we have a current drive or fundraiser going is our News & Notes page. Some of our regular drives and collections include:
- Angels of Hope – Our Advent toy drive for local children and families of those currently incarcerated in Illinois jails or prisons.
- SNAP Gap Donations – We regularly collect items that are not covered for purchase by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Special Offerings and Fundraisers for Local Refugees – At various times, we will collect items or financial donations designated for refugee families we have befriended over the years.
These collections and fundraisers are announced in our Sunday Bulletins, our weekly emails, and on our News and Notes web page.
Where to Donate Food in Evanston & Nearby
- Evanston Community Fridges – Accepts shelf-stable foods, produce, and other non-perishable items.
https://www.evanstoncommunityfridges.com/ - Hillside Food Pantry – Accepts canned goods, boxed items, and non-perishable foods.
https://www.hillsidepantry.org/donations/ - Evanston Vineyard Food Pantry – Accepts donations of canned, boxed, or packaged food; sometimes fresh produce.
https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/locations/evanston-vineyard-food-pantry/ - Salvation Army Evanston Corps – Accepts mostly non-perishable food items.
https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/evanston/cure-hunger/ - Interfaith Action of Evanston – Accepts canned and packaged food; some sites accept fresh produce with notice.
https://interfaithactionofevanston.org/resources/food-pantries/ - John XXIII Parish Pantry – Accepts canned, boxed, and frozen meat donations.
https://www.stjohn23evanston.org/food-assistance.html - Evanston Grows – Accepts fresh produce donations from local gardens.
https://www.evanstongrows.org/accessfood
Where to Donate Clothes in Evanston & Nearby
- YWCA Evanston/North Shore (Shop for Good) — Accepts new & gently‑used women’s clothing, shoes, accessories at 2122 Central St., Evanston. YWCA Evanston/North Shore+1
https://www.ywca-ens.org/shop - Thrift House (Junior League of Evanston‑North Shore) — Accepts women’s & men’s gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares. jl.org
https://evanstonnorthshore.jl.org/thrift-house/ - Interfaith Action of Evanston — Clothing services list: accepts gently used seasonal clothing, coats, shoes for men, women, children. Interfaith Action of Evanston
https://interfaithactionofevanston.org/resources/clothing-services/ - Connections for the Homeless — Accepts adult clothing (casual & professional), boots, shoes, coats for men & women. Patch
https://www.patch.com/illinois/evanston/where-can-i-donate-clothing-in-evanston (link via article listing) - Family Focus of Evanston — Accepts new and gently used clothing for men, women & children at 2010 Dewey Ave. Patch
https://www.patch.com/illinois/evanston/where-can-i-donate-clothing-in-evanston - Salvation Army Donation Center Evanston — Accepts clothing, household items; drop‑off at 2424 Oakton St., Evanston. SA Truck+1
https://satruck.org/DropOff/Index?zip=60643 - Cradles to Crayons (Chicagoland) — Accepts children’s clothes and shoes for kids in need; though wider region, accepts Chicagoland donations. Wikipedia
https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/ - We Pickup Clothes — Provides free clothing pickup in Evanston; you donate clothes and they collect from your home for redistribution. We Pickup Clothes https://wepickupclothes.com/cook-county/evanston/
Evanston Books
- Evanston Public Library (1703 Orrington Ave) — You can drop books at the green Better World Books bin outside the library for reuse/recycling. GovDelivery+2epl.org+2
https://epl.org/donate/ - BookEnds & Beginnings (1620 Orrington Ave) — A used book store that accepts gently‑used books (and you might trade for store credit or donate). Bookends & Beginnings
https://bookendsandbeginnings.com/booktrade-and-beginnings
Evanston Small Things
- The WasteShed Evanston — Accepts art, craft supplies, “containers, jewelry boxes, tins … modern or fancy picture frames”. https://www.thewasteshed.com/donate com
- Thrift House (Junior League of Evanston‑North Shore) — Accepts “housewares and home décor” among other items. https://evanstonnorthshore.jl.org/thrift-house/ jl.org
- Rebuilding Exchange — Located in Evanston; accepts building materials and may accept home décor items; good to reach out. https://rebuildingexchange.org/donate-materials/ org
Regional Food Assistance Agencies in Northern Illinois
- Champaign/Urbana Food Assistance Resources
- Chicago & Cook County Food Assistance Resources
- Chicago Mutual Aid – Food Assistance Resources
- DuPage County Food Assistance Resources
- Kane County Food Assistance Resources
- Lake County Food Assistance Resources
- Quad Cities Food Assistance Resources
- Rockford & Winnebago County Food Assistance Resources
