Living the Legacy Partner Organizations and Volunteer Opportunities: 2020-2021


Please see below contactless and in-person service opportunities for students and families during the 2020-2021 school year. Please note that during COVID-19, students may fulfill their service hours in “contactless opportunities” or in person.

Write Letters to Medical Workers

If you have a hospital or contact to be added to this list please contact Beth at livingthelegacy@fxw.org.

John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Michelle Sergel, MD
Department of Emergency Medicine
832 West 37th Place
Chicago, IL 60609

Alexandra Soriano
Department of Emergency Medicine
2131 W Bowler St.
Chicago, IL 60612

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dean Harrison
251 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611

FXW Nurses Leslie Kelly and Pam Madura
Drop notes of thanks at the front office of either campus or with your child’s homeroom teacher for our hardworking nurses.

Rush University Medical Center
Kathy Kosmala
1259 West Cottage Place

Chicago, IL 60607

University of Chicago Medical Center
Marla Robinson
4021 North Kimball
Chicago, IL 60618

When making cards, please sign it from FXW or just your first name. Also, please remember to write hopeful messages. Sample notes could say: “Thank you so much for helping,” “We appreciate you,” “You are in our prayers.” In addition, please make sure to wash your hands before creating cards.

In addition, many individual hospitals are in the process of creating electronic databases to share cards. FXW will share information regarding these databases as soon as we receive it from hospitals.

Support our Living the Legacy Partners

  • Big Shoulders Fund
    Click here to learn more about how to support the Big Shoulders Fund schools from home.
  • Bishop Conway Residences
    Bishop Conway is currently accepting donations of:
    • Adult Coloring, we have been discovering some hidden talents. Coloring crayons, pencils, canvas, etc.
    • Trivia or fun facts sheets.
    • Care notes from volunteers.
    • Magazines (English and Spanish)
    • Dot to Dot (big numbers)
    • Books (biographies, novels, fiction, historical novels, devotionals, inspirational, self-motivation, self-improvement).
      For more information about donating, please contact Luz Cintron at lcintron@catholiccharities.net.
  • The Bloc

The Bloc is a nonprofit boxing club located in West Humboldt Park. The organization works to improve Chicago’s future by attracting young men and women in grades 5 – 12 who are least likely to join mentoring and tutoring programs and offers them an enriching athletic and academic opportunity at no cost. Once enrolled they begin character-first boxing training, are engaged in academic services and their horizons are expanded through explorational learning and college visits.

Since 2016, they have maintained 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rates. Organization-wide, their fighters’ average GPAs have been over 3.2 year-to-year. Youth who come to The Bloc to learn to fight ultimately learn how to fight for their success.

  • The Bloc seeks donors and volunteers to assist with:
    • Funding boxing training programs and equipment
    • Hands-on tutoring and mentoring for students
    • Providing subject matter expertise for student enrichment programs – past topics have included STEM, yoga and money management
    • Organizing and distributing items for their bi-monthly neighborhood food pantry
    • Supplying hot meals for 30 students during Saturday enrichment programming

To learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities click here: https://www.theblocchicago.org/get-involved or contact FXW parent, Kate Hardy at kathleen.t.hardy@gmail.com.

  • Catholic Charities
    Catholic Charities is running a holiday campaign called “Celebration of Giving: Unwrap the Spirit.” There are many different ways to participate, including through ordering items off their holiday wish lists, sponsoring a family, and more. For more information, click here.

    Catholic Charities is also currently accepting donation and has in person volunteering opportunities. You can drop items off at their location located at 721 North LaSalle Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. For in person volunteer opportunities please visit www.ccofchicagovolunteer.com.

    Please bring the following items:
    • Any canned goods
    • Peanut butter
    • Individual bags of chips
    • Juice boxes
    • Men’s jeans (any size, new or used)

      For in person volunteer opportunities please visit www.ccofchicagovolunteer.com.
  • Chicago Help Initiative
    They were founded to support the hungry and those experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Families can donate bagged meals or volunteer in person. Visit their website for more information: http://chicagohelpinitiative.org/.
  • Cradles to Crayons
    Cradles to Crayons is open and accepting donations! Currently, they are only accepting contactless donations in their outdoor collection units: The Giving FactoryBuffalo GroveNapervilleHighwoodand the South Side YMCA hub. Due to the constraints of our units, please donate items using bags that have been securely tied shut or in small boxes that have been taped closed. Please do not leave donations outside of the units! 

    For more information about C2C and small group volunteer opportunities, please visit www.cradlestocrayons.com. ​Tto volunteer in person at C2C, please email volunteerchicago@cradlestocrayons.org
  • Digs with Dignity
    Digs with Dignity works with families to elevate the lives of those transitioning from homelessness by filling their new homes with the essentials necessary for success, while also keeping furniture and other home goods out of landfills. Please click here for further information and click here for sponsorship opportunities.
  • Greater Chicago Food Depository
    For information on in person volunteer opportunities please visit www.chicagofoodbank.org.
  • Heartland Alliance
    For information and to view in-person or at home volunteer opportunities for Heartland Alliance, click here. To donate items through Heartland’s Program Wish List Campaign (contactless donations through Amazon Wish Lists), click here.
  • Honeycomb Project
    The Honeycomb Project is an organization the facilitates in person and virtual volunteer opportunities. Their programs instill social awareness, empathy, and civic action in the youngest of volunteers. To learn more, visit: www.thehoneycombproject.org.
    February opportunities at The Honeycomb Project are open for registration. For  more information please click here.
  • Just Roots Chicago
    Just Roots Chicago is a sustainable farm and CSA that provides food for the St. James Food Pantry. Families can volunteer to help on the farms. https://justrootschicago.org/
  • Lakeview Pantry
    For more information about Lakeview Pantry’s Holiday Toy Giveaway and collection, click here.

    Lakeview Pantry is offering in person volunteering and is collecting food items. The most in need of the following items:
    • Peanut butter
    • Canned tuna
    • Canned vegetables
    • Oatmeal
    • Canned fruit

      Please drop-off donations at The Hub, 5151 N. Ravenswood Ave. on Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to view in person volunteer opportunities please visit www.lakeviewpantry.org.
  • Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly
    • Click here to view LBFE Holiday Wish List, which will be used to fill holiday gift bags delivered to almost 1000 elders.
    • Click here to view volunteer opportunities for the holiday season.
    • To view opportunities for students, click here.
    • To view information about the Elder Holiday Gift Program, click here.
  • Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
    Mercy Home for Boys and Girls is currently accepting donations. Please contact Tom Gilardi (tomgil@mercyhome.org) with any questions. Donations can be dropped off at the door or vestibule of Mercy Home (1140 West Jackson Blvd). Please include donors name at drop off.

    Most needed items include:
    • Bath towels
    • Twin sheet sets
    • Shampoo
    • Bar soap
    • Deodorant
    • Lotion
    • Toothpaste
    • Toothbrushes
  • Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in West Humboldt Park
    The Mission of our Lady of the Angels in West Humboldt Park is in need of the following items:
    • Peanut butter
    • Canned meat/fish
    • Chef Boyardee/meals in a can
    • Canned fruit
    • Oatmeal/cereal

      They will accept all food items. In addition, they need large, sturdy garbage bags to implement social distancing. Please contact Sister Stephanie Baliga at sbaliga2@gmail.com to coordinate delivery drop off at 3814 West Iowa St.

      To view in person volunteer opportunities please visit www.missionola.com.
  • The Night Ministry
    The Night Ministry has several opportunities to support their work:
    • They are always in need of sack meals. People can drop them off at their office (1735 North Ashland Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60622) or meet their outreach bus to serve the meals. They are only allowing 1-2 volunteers to serve the sack meals, but this has been a good option for folks who want to get back out on the street with The Night Ministry. To schedule meal donations, people can contact andrew@thenightministry.org.
    • They are also in need of hygiene kits. The information about hygiene kits and other in-kind donations can be found here: https://www.thenightministry.org/other-ways-to-support.
    • They also have a wish list with their most needed items. You can find that here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3KKOLWHCIPJPV?&sort=default.

      At this time, The Night Ministry is scheduling donation drop-offs ahead of time, since they aren’t in the office during their typical hours. Please contact miranda@thenightministry.org to schedule a time to drop off any in-kind donations.
  • Pilsen Food Pantry
    For information on how to volunteer at the Pilsen Food Pantry, click here. If you have a child younger than the minimum age stated online, please reach out the pantry directly to inquire as they may able to accommodate your family.
  • Upcycling Colors
    Upcycling Colors would love to receive your leftover (new/used) art, craft and school supplies and is now accepting curbside drop off donations by appointment only. You can also mail the supplies to the address below.

    1730 N Clark Street, Chicago IL 60614

    Please call/text 312.887.1619 or email info@upcyclingcolors.com to make a donation appointment or to inquire about other volunteer opportunities.