Fourteen nonprofits will line the Indian Hill Metra station parking lot in Winnetka on Saturday, Oct. 3, collecting gently used donations in a single stop.
The Volunteer Center, led by Executive Director Bridget Lewis, is hosting its 24th annual Make A Difference Day drive from 9 a.m. to noon at 111 Green Bay Road. The Northfield-based nonprofit has organized the local event for more than two decades, building on a national day-of-giving concept launched in 1992 by USA Weekend Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation. Volunteers on site will direct each carload to the right organization, as first reported by The Record North Shore.
Sort and label everything before you arrive. The Volunteer Center asks donors to bag or box items and mark each container with the nonprofit's name.
Here is what each organization is collecting:
- Wings — women's attire and purses
- Connections for the Homeless — men's attire and luggage
- Cradles to Crayons — children's clothing, shoes and winter gear
- Share Our Space — baby clothing, diapers, formula, baby food and baby gear
- Windy City ToolBank — tools, lawn tools and related supplies
- Chicago Furniture Bank — mattresses, box springs, frames, assembled cribs, chairs, tables, desks, mirrors, rugs and kitchenware
- Binary Heart — computers, cellphones and tablets
- Books for Cause — books, CDs, DVDs, collectibles and comics
- AmVets — sporting equipment of any kind, including cleats
- Working Bikes — adult bikes in reparable condition, kids' bikes, bike parts, accessories and bike jerseys
- Border Tail Rescue — pet supplies including toys, food, small blankets and towels
- Northbrook Symphony Orchestra — musical instruments
- Hadley Institute for the Blind — eyeglasses, cases and lenses
- North Shore Exchange — artwork, framed prints and other works of art
The Volunteer Center's event page says the lot setup lets donors drop off items for all 14 groups in one trip rather than driving to multiple sites across the North Shore.
For questions, residents can email [email protected] or visit VolunteerCenterHelps.org. The lot opens at 9 a.m. Saturday and closes at noon.
