Be The Change
And improve the lives of women, children, and families in need!
Here’s How You Can Help!
1. Donate: Your donation to Margaret’s Village will make a difference in the lives of our Chicago neighbors who are affected by homelessness and poverty. If you are able to make a recurring gift or matching gift, you will help us in meeting the needs of residents. Please make a DONATION today.
2. In-Kind Gifts: Many items such as toiletries and other personal items, food, clothing, and blankets are needed at shelters. See what items are most needed by reading our WISH LIST.
3. Spread The Word: Do you know a business, school, book club, scouting troop, alumni organization, church community that might want to know more about Margaret’s Village and homelessness in Chicago?
- Our Executive Director would be happy to speak to your group!
- Arrange for your group to participate in a supply drive, or a day of service at one of our shelters. Gain community service hours and enhance team building while bringing awareness of the challenges confronting the homeless.
4. Events:
Sponsor Our Events:Our Fall Gala and Spring Luncheon have many levels of sponsorship opportunities. With a mailing list of nearly 3,000 and various forms of public acknowledgement, it is a great way for companies to build brand recognition and to inspire philanthropy.
Attend An Event: In addition to our two annual fundraising events, we also provide information on other events at Margaret’s Village and fundraisers benefiting Margaret’s Village.
Plan An Event Or Join An Event Committee: Help plan an event to benefit Margaret’s Village — contact us to find out how to attend an event, plan an event, sponsor an event, or to join one of our event committees!
5. Sponsor A Bed, And Be a Dreamcatcher: A donation of $500 will sponsor a bed at one of our two shelters. Your donation will help implement all of the services that we provide during the year, including shelter, nutritious meals, mental health outreach, personalized case management, medical attention, and more. Anyone who sponsors a bed is invited to provide a message of support which we will add to a dreamcatcher and place on the sponsored bed. You will be a very special Dreamcatcher for the residents of Maria and Believe Shelters!
6. Volunteer: Margaret’s Village relies on the generosity of our volunteers who give of their time, energy, and gifts to support our mission. Request a volunteer form using the contact form on this page.
Volunteers are needed to serve on board committees such as fundraising events, resource development, and facilities.
Already a volunteer? Visit our events calendar and take a look at our calendar for upcoming openings.
7. Shop Online: Next time you shop online, use a company that donates a percentage of your purchase to Margaret’s Village at no cost to you. Simply choose Margaret’s Village as your preferred charity. These companies include:
Amazon Smile http://smile.amazon.com
igive www.igive.com
escrip www.escrip.com
goodshop and goodsearch www.goodshop.com and www.goodsearch.org
8. Matching Gifts: Check with your employer to see if they will match your tax-deductible contribution. Every dollar you give can have double the impact! Email us with questions or if we can help.
9. Welcome Home Kits: Our residents transitioning into housing always need assistance settling into their new homes. This is a great opportunity for you, your family, church group or co-workers to assist!
10. Join Our Leadership Teams: Looking for a place to develop your professional skills and meet new friends while helping to serve those in need? We have three options, differing in commitment and structure:
- Board committee. Meetings vary from once per month to once per quarter, and most are by phone. Committees include fundraising (planning events), marketing and communications, programs and facilities.
- Associate Board. A group of twenty to thirty somethings that is committed to promoting the work of MV and becoming leaders in the community through effective volunteer service and social fundraising.
- Governing Board. Email us to learn more.
11. Follow Us: Find MV on Facebook and Twitter and help us share critical information about the services we are providing to our Chicago neighbors in need. Share the latest news with your networks and stay in touch with us.
Donations are 100% tax deductible. Margaret’s Village is a 501(c)3 organization. Online donations are credit card transactions that are handled by Network For Good’s secure online payment system.
Donate by check:
Margaret’s Village
7315 South Yale Avenue
Chicago, IL 60621-3441
Donate by phone:
Call 773.651.8372
Your Donation Matters. Please Send:
- $50 provides a woman with enough bus passes to attend job training or City Colleges for a month
- $100 provides our seniors with a month’s worth of healthy lunches
- $200 provides a single woman with food, shelter and services for one week.
- $1700 provides shelter and services for a father and son for one month.
For additional ways to donate please contact us.
Wish List
Make easy donations using Amazon or email us with your gift information? Please visit Amazon.com to purchase any of our always-needed Wish List items and Amazon will ship your gift directly to Margaret’s Village! Check out our Amazon Wish List here.
ALWAYS NEEDED
Our residents are always in need of Chicago bus passes. Residents use them to go to medical appointments, job interviews and jobs, and go to school.
KITCHEN SUPPLIES / FOOD
Silverware, Cups, Dishes
Kitchen soap
Paper towels
Paper plates, paper cups, plastic silverware
Gift certificates to Target, Jewel, Walmart
Kitchen towels
Plastic storage bags of all sizes
Spices and seasonings
Food items such as rice, beans, spaghetti, soup, cereal, flour, sugar, tuna, etc.
CLEANING SUPPLIES
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Sponges, SOS pads, etc.
Rubber gloves
Pine-sol, Lysol, etc.
Bleach
Mops, brooms, pails
Garbage bags
Paper towels
BEDROOM SUPPLIES
Sheets, especiallly twin sheets
Washable Twin Comforters/Bedspreads
Blankets
Pillows for twin beds and pillowcases
Waste paper baskets
Rubbermaid Storage containers
Gift certificates to Target or Walmart
Bath towels and hand towels
PERSONAL ITEMS
Femine hygiene items
Deodorant (both women and men)
Shampoo, Bar Soap
Hand sanitizer
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dental Floss
Brushes/Combs
Kleenex
Toilet Paper
Hats and Gloves
Gift certificates to Target, Walmart or Jewel
BABY SUPPLIES
Diapers (all sizes)
Wipes and Creams
Crib Sheets
Baby blankets
High Chairs in good condition
PROGRAM AND OFFICE SUPPLIES
Art Supplies of any kind including paints, paintbrushes
Paper (all kinds and colors)
Pens, Pencils, Markers
Sewing Machine
Supplies for sewing, knitting, quilting, etc.
Exercise equipment
Copy machine
Fax machine
Tape (all kinds)
Manilla Folders
Mailing Envelopes (all sizes)
Binders, Notebooks, Folders
3 hole punch
Flash drives
Computer equipment and software
Digital camera
Gift certificates to JoAnn’s or Michael’s, Target, Walmart, Staples or Office Depot
Volunteer
You can help by volunteering your time.
Serve on board committees such as fundraising events, resource development, and facilities
Advocacy on behalf of homeless and elder issues
Art projects for Vincenne’s Senior Center
Child care at our shelter
Construction, renovation, and maintenance projects, including painting
Design and production of printed materials or video projects
Food preparation (Churches, groups, and schools may volunteer to prepare and serve an evening meal for the shelter residents.)
Grant writing
Landscaping / Gardening
Office assistance (filing, mailing, data entry)
Organizing and participating in our Annual Community Health Fair
Program presentations: Do you have a skill or knowledge that you could share with the shelter residents or senior citizens?
Public relations and marketing
Volunteer monitors (ideal for school teachers and social workers)
For more information please email us using the form on this page. Be sure and select the volunteer button!
Are you a corporation or community group seeking volunteer opportunities? Please email us.
Leave A Legacy: Support Margaret’s Village Through Planned Giving.
When people heard the words “planned giving” they often think it is only something very wealthy people do. The reality is people of all income levels can have dramatic impact on nonprofits with their charitable giving.
Bequest Margaret’s Village in a Will or Trust
One of the many ways that a supporter may choose to express his/her commitment to our long-term sustainability is by naming Margaret’s Village in your will or trust. This is a way to make a lasting investment in Margaret’s Village without affecting your current financial security and freedom. Planned gifts offer you the flexibility to balance your personal financial goals and your desire to provide for loved ones with your interest in supporting Margaret’s Village. If you already have included Margaret’s Village in your estate plans, please email us to provide information.
Bequests and living trusts are some of the most common tools of planned giving. You may choose to give a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, or any part of the residue which is the remainder of the estate after all bequests and obligations are satisfied.
Some types of bequests to consider:
- Unrestricted Bequests: Allows Margaret’s Village to direct your gift where it is needed the most.
- Restricted Bequests: Donor directs the use of the funds for a particular purpose (for shelter programs or senior programs, etc.)
- Specific Bequest: Gives a specific asset such as stock or cash
- Residuary Bequest: Gives all or a percentage of what remains in your estate to Margaret’s Village after all other specific bequests have been satisfied and all debts and expenses have been paid.
- Contingent Bequest: Gives all or a portion of your estate to Margaret’s Village when a named individual beneficiary dies before you. For example, “I give $20,000 to my neighbor John, but if he does not survive me, the bequest shall be given to Margaret’s Village.”
You can include wording in your will or trust such as: “I give, devise, and bequeath to Margaret’s Village, located at 7315 S. Yale Chicago, IL 60621 (Tax Identification Number: 36-3104655) the amount of $_____, or __________% of the residue of my estate, to be used for general operating support.”
There are many vehicles that may be used in estate planning including various types of trusts, annuities, stock transfers, life insurance designations, retirement plans, etc. Your financial situation is unique, so it is important to discuss with your attorney/financial advisor the best tools to carry out your wishes.
There are also ways to donate NOW with special tax benefits or other considerations.
Marketable or Closely Held Securities
Appreciated stocks and bonds may be given to Margaret’s Village, allowing donors to deduct their current market value as a charitable contribution and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation. For example, Mary wants to make a year-end gift to Margaret’s Village of $5,000. If she sells $5,000 worth of stock and gives the after-tax balance to Margaret’s Village, she may be donating considerably less than $5,000 depending upon the amount of capital gains tax she will be required to pay. Furthermore, her charitable deduction will not be based upon the full $5,000, but rather, the amount actually received by Margaret’s Village. However, if Mary transfers the stock itself to Margaret’s Village, she will not pay any capital gains tax and she will be able to deduct the current value of the stock ($5,000 in this example) as a charitable contribution.
Life Insurance
Among the many ways to donate life insurance, the simplest way is to designate Margaret’s Village as a beneficiary of the policy. You can also transfer ownership of a paid-up policy or donate insurance policy dividends. Typically, transferring ownership of a policy allows the donor to receive a current income tax deduction in the year transferred. Check with your financial/tax advisor for specific details.
Retirement Plans
Donors can give their required minimum distribution from an IRA to charity tax-free. Donors 70 1/2 and older who do not need all or a portion of their IRA income may take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover provision and make annual tax-free charitable gifts of up to $100,000 each ($200,000 per couple) directly from their qualified IRAs to Margaret’s Village and other favorite charities without recognizing the assets transferred as income. The distributions will count toward their annual required minimum distribution (RMD) which can help them reduce their income and pay less taxes. Certain restrictions apply so be sure to contact your financial/tax advisor to help analyze your benefits.
This information is not intended to be financial or legal advice, so please consult with your professional advisors to determine the current law and the best way for you to invest in Margaret’s Village.
We would like to share with you the many ways your support of Margaret’s Village will impact the women, families and seniors we serve. Please contact Geri Kerger, Development Director at geri.kerger@margaretsvillage.org or 773-651-8372 for more information.
Stay Connected to Our Community
Margaret’s Village is on the move! We want keep you informed about our work on behalf of Chicago’s neediest community members and our upcoming activities and events. Just take a moment to fill in your email and name, and you will be part of our network. Thanks!
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