Celebrating Giving Tuesday with Local Non-Profits, Charities, and Ways to Give Back in Lake County

Nov 28, 2023

What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a great reminder to step back from the consumerism of the holidays, and get back to the roots of the season: connecting with others, appreciating community, giving the gift of our appreciation and support, and caring for others in the spirit of kindness. This annual event aims especially to help local and national non-profits and charitable organizations gain visibility, attract new patrons and donors, and engage with the community to increase awareness and support for their causes.

Here are some wonderful non-profits and charities in our area that could use your support or membership:

United Way of Lake County in Gurnee
Habitat for Humanity Lake County in Waukegan
COOL Food Pantry in Waukegan
Casa Lake County in Vernon Hills
Fill a Heart 4 Kids in Lake Forest
Women Enuff, Inc in Zion
Growing Healthy Veterans in Gurnee
Mothers Trust Foundation in Lake Forest
Rae of Sunshine Foundation in Long Grove
Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff
Help Them to Hope in Gurnee
Mano A Mano Family Resource Center

Have a local charity or non-profit organization that could use support? Let us know in the comments!

Other fantastic ways you can give back within our communities:

Donate your time and physical presence to helping stock food pantries or serve meals
Give blood at local blood banks or blood drives
Offer ride share service to your neighbors, local seniors, and disabled individuals. Oftentimes these folks may need rides to important appointments, picking up their meds, and gathering groceries! Providing transportation as needed can be a great help!
Start a community garden and urban agriculture project and encourage your friends and neighbors to join in planting, cultivating, and harvesting fruits and veggies and other edible plants.
Ask if your employer will contribute a “gift match” to your personal donation, and make a few contributions to local organizations like COOL ministries and others.
When shopping on Amazon, set http://Smile.Amazon.com as your homepage and contribute a percentage of your purchases to the charity of your choice.
Create care packages for the local unhoused population and distribute, or bring to warming stations around the city. Remember to include some additional bags for pets; many unhoused individuals do care for family pets, have service animals, and general animal companions. Providing food and water and treats for peoples’ pets can help as well!
Collect gently used toys, books, and clothing in good condition which has been laundered and folded neatly, and bring them to a local family shelter or to warming stations around town. Remember to include extended sizing from infant to toddler to juniors as well as adult XS to XXXXL when purchasing or collecting clothing! All bodies deserve comfortable clothing and warmth.
Volunteer at a local animal shelter to do dog walking and animal playtime sessions, drop off canned and bagged animal food and kitty litter, donate gently used blankets and sheets and towels, bleach, pet safe salt/gravel, and other daily use pet items.
Contribute specialty food goods, seasonings, and allergen friendly items to local food banks, pantries, and community fridges. Just because someone is unhoused does not mean they no longer have dietary restrictions or don’t deserve a healthy, delicious meal!
Remember to contribute personal hygiene items such as diapers, diaper rash cream, sunscreen, deodorant, soap and shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, over the counter medications such as fever reducers and children’s meds, and toilet paper to local food drives, shelters and collection banks in addition to food.
Spend some time at local senior centers, nursing homes, and care facilities, especially around the holidays! Due to the Covid19 pandemic, many elderly and disabled people have had a difficult few years in isolation, and spending time with fellow community members can lift their spirits! Remember to protect our vulnerable populations, though, and adhere to social distancing and vaccination/mask requirements.

And of course, all of us here at Classic Auto Group send a comforting virtual hug to you all in thanks for your support and dedication to building a better community!