Neighbors in Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth and Northfield looking to give back this holiday season have several options close to home.

Here is what we confirmed from each organization's own pages.

New Trier Township Food Pantry

The township food pantry serves more than 270 households, about 550 people, across Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe and parts of Northfield and Glenview. It runs on individual and institutional donations.

Residents can drop off food and personal care items at the township office, 739 Elm Street in Winnetka, any weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pantry publishes a Priority Needs List on its website and maintains an Amazon Wish List so donors can ship items directly. Check expiration dates before donating.

To organize a food drive, contact the food pantry manager at 847-446-8203. Cash donations can be made online through the township's donation page.

The township also runs the Angel Fund, a separate 501(c)(3) that provides emergency help with food, shelter, utilities, clothing and medical care for eligible residents. The fund says 100% of donations go to direct assistance with no administrative costs. Donation forms are available on the township website.

Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield: Share Your Bounty

The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield lists its annual Share Your Bounty campaign on its website, collecting cash donations to buy bulk groceries at Costco for families in transitional housing served by Good News Partners in Chicago's North of Howard neighborhood. The club's 2026 donation page asks donors to give by Nov. 15 so groceries can be purchased before a Nov. 19 packing session. The club's fundraising goal is $2,500 to fill more than 100 bags of groceries.

The Rotary also prepares 160 sack lunches each month for Connections for the Homeless at St. Joseph's Church at Lake and Ridge in Wilmette on the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Connections for the Homeless

Based in Evanston, Connections for the Homeless serves more than 5,000 people a year across northern Cook County with shelter, housing, eviction prevention and food support. North Shore residents have several ways to pitch in.

Gift of Giving: The organization's annual holiday gift drive matches donors with participant wish lists. The drop-off is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lake Street Church in Evanston.

Holiday projects: Connections lists food-basket assembly on Thursday, Nov. 12, and Thursday, Dec. 10. Care-package projects for Hilda’s Place are listed for the weeks of Nov. 23, Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Volunteers should check registration links for availability.

Meal preparation: Connections needs 160-plus bagged lunches daily across three sites and 35 hot dinners each night for its emergency shelter. Individuals, families and groups can prepare meals off-site and deliver them.

Junior Council: High school students in northern suburban Cook County can join Junior Council, which meets virtually once a month and organizes donation drives and on-site service projects. Email [email protected] to sign up.

Item donations: Connections accepts donations at its main office, 2121 Dewey Ave., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. At Lake Street Church, 1450 Chicago Ave., clothing and shoes can go in the designated bin, secured in tied bags. Large donations and toiletries are accepted at the church during weekday staffed hours, 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Contact [email protected] for guidance.

Winnetka Congregational Church Rummage

The WCC Rummage operation, running since 1902, accepts donations year-round at its center at 630 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka. The drop-off is at the bottom of the stairs at the east end of the Pine Street parking lot of the Winnetka Community House, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. No furniture at that location; email the church to arrange a pickup for a $35 fee.

Accepted items include clothing, shoes, housewares, sporting goods, toys, books, jewelry, linens, dishes and more. Proceeds support social service agencies across the Chicago area. Volunteers sort, price and display items throughout the year, and new volunteers are welcome.

The Volunteer Center

The Volunteer Center, based in New Trier Township, connects residents and groups of all ages with more than 110 nonprofits through its online volunteer directory. The center also coordinates Days of Service with its 160-plus nonprofit partners. Residents looking for a one-time project or a longer commitment can search the directory on its website.

Keeping Families Covered

Keeping Families Covered distributes diapers, period products and incontinence supplies free of charge to families across northern Illinois. The organization accepts donations of diapers, pull-ups, youth and adult incontinence products and period supplies. Volunteer shifts at its Lake County and McHenry County locations are managed through its online portal, Golden, at keepingfamiliescovered.org/volunteer. Residents can also sign up as ambassadors, hosting a drop-off collection site at a home or workplace. Contact the office at 224-637-1644 for giving options.

Beyond the holidays

Most of these organizations accept donations and volunteers year-round. The New Trier Township Food Pantry is open every weekday. Connections for the Homeless needs bagged lunches and dinner prep every day of the year. The WCC Rummage donation center stays open daily. The Volunteer Center's directory lists opportunities in every season.