With Thanksgiving around the corner and the ‘Season of Giving’ to follow, there couldn’t be a better time to both be thankful for what we have AND give back to those who may have less. We can make a profound difference in our own community by helping one neighbor at a time. Here are a few ways to make a difference and put smiles on faces.
The Salvation Army has their well-known Red Kettle bells that collect donations for families in need, specifically children, Veterans, and seniors. These funds also support natural disaster victims and other programs including homelessness relief. Millions of people have been aided through the Salvation Army and their programs. Your spare change can make an astronomical impact for the less fortunate. Their Angel Tree program partners with Walmart to allow you to shop from the convenience of your home using the Walmart.com website and shipping directly to the closest Salvation Army.
Veterans Path to Hope right here in Crystal Lake has a similar concept that helps not only McHenry County, but also Lake and Winnebago counties. They provide military families with meals, counseling, shelter, and more. You may see boxes around the Crystal Lake area to benefit this cause, making it easier to give back to those who gave so much for us. Immediate needs include clothing, food, and monetary donations, which can also be brought to their location on McHenry Avenue. You will find the full wishlist on their website.
Home of the Sparrow provides support for women and children struggling with homelessness by providing shelter and protection. HOS has nearly 25 locations in and around Crystal Lake that participate in a Giving Tree program, including their Sparrow’s Nest Thrift Store locations, local libraries, restaurants, and more. Each tree is decorated with tags listing a gift need. Simply choose a tag, purchase the item, and return it under the tree or to the main office in Woodstock. A full list of participating locations can be found on their website.
Simply going to the doctor can be healing for you while helping others at the same time. At Mission 516 Chiropractic in Lakewood, Dr Ron and his team use curated techniques to get you feeling your best. They help families not only feel good physically, but also offer the opportunity to give back. Right after Thanksgiving, Giving Trees with between 75 and 125 tags are set up in their reception area. These tags describe specific gift needs for foster and adopted children and their caretakers through Kids in Need McHenry County. Dr. Ron and his wife Dana’s mission to make the biggest impact possible expands globally as they bring care and support to others in need. Learn more on their website.
Giving back just a few hours of your time in the form of volunteering can help hundreds of those in need. One amazing way to volunteer is with The Rotary Club of Woodstock Christmas Clearing House. For over 50 years, thousands of families have been served by this program which distributes gifts to families in need and works with Toys for Tots around the Woodstock area to support their local school district families with low-income assistance. Residents and businesses donate toys and gifts towards this production which uses a warehouse to store and sort the donations. Even local stores and restaurants participate in aiding the cause by donating a portion of their sales to the Clearing House. Sometimes simply going out to eat can make an impact.
Volunteers (including school children) work together to sort toys–from toddler to teen–as well as gift cards for the older adolescents in the program. On a Saturday in December, volunteers deliver the bags of toys, along with food boxes from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, to neighbors in need in our county. Volunteers are treated to a breakfast provided by the local Moose Lodge. This well-oiled machine can only improve with your help. Learn more on the Woodstock Rotary website.
The Crystal Lake Food Pantry’s demand has continued to rise, making community involvement more vital than ever. Whether it’s donating canned or boxed goods at collection sites or giving an hour of your time to help pack food boxes, every contribution makes a difference. For the many seniors and families living on fixed incomes, the pantry offers more than groceries—it provides dignity, creating the feeling of shopping in a welcoming, high-quality market. You can check out their wish list on the Food Pantry website.
Every donation—whether food, funds, gifts, or volunteer hours—creates a ripple of kindness that extends across many corners of our community. Each act of generosity helps lift up neighbors in ways big and small. Together, we can ensure the spirit of compassion carries well beyond the holiday season, reminding us that we’re strongest when we show up for one another.