New Trier Township and Caring Partners Provide Assistance at the Holidays

Learn how you can contribute through the Caring Neighbors Program or by donating to the Angel Fund

Every year at this time, New Trier Township partners with businesses, organizations and residents in the community to work together to assure those in need receive support at the holidays.

One local partner who helps the Township meet its mission is Jewel Osco on Green Bay Road in Wilmette. Jewel has designated New Trier Township as the beneficiary of their “Turkey Bucks” program for the fifth year in a row. Most shoppers are familiar with the concept wherein each cashier asks shoppers at check-out if they would like to donate to a specific charitable fund. In this case, the “Turkey Bucks” fund will purchase complete Thanksgiving dinners for families in New Trier Township. For Thanksgiving 2012, 80 dinners were purchased for families in need of assistance. The dinners are purchased, assembled and brought to the Township Office several days prior to Thanksgiving. Food Pantry clients are invited to the Township to pick up their meal on a first come first served basis. The program is repeated again in December for holiday meals.

Jewel Manager Sean Gallagher says, “This program allows us to bring some happiness through providing delicious meals at the holidays to members of the community where we do business. It’s a feel-good program for our staff, and everyone gets into the spirit and encourages customers to contribute.”

The second partner organization that assists the Township is Winnetka Congregational Church. For the second year in a row, the church ran a food drive in which congregants brought food items to church. The group assembled on a recent Sunday to create baskets of food items and bags of toiletries. The items supplied were identified by the Township Food Pantry as priority items such as healthy snacks, nuts, fruit, cookies, crackers, olive oil, granola bars, baking ingredients, canned hams and much more. Each basket also contained a gift card for groceries. Church members delivered the food baskets to the Food Pantry and stocked the shelves of the Pantry as well as several additional storage areas with their generous donation. Pantry clients will be able to take these donations in addition to their regular items, which will make the Thanksgiving holiday more plentiful for them.

Another partner organization that provides support to the Food Pantry is Sunset Foods in Northbrook along with the Hunger Resource Network through their annual Community Outreach Day. The New Trier Food Pantry was recently the recipient of almost 1,000 pounds of chicken thanks to the successful 2013 Community Outreach Day for Hunger Resource Network in their effort to alleviate hunger.

Ways in which residents can help

Residents who wish to contribute in providing support for neighbors in need at the holidays can join in the Township’s annual Caring Neighbors program, which allows residents to sponsor a family by purchasing holiday gifts for an assigned family.  In 2012, the Township arranged gifts for 84 children from 37 local families. Gifts must be purchased, wrapped and delivered to the Township by Wednesday, December 18. Those who are interested in sponsoring a family may contact the Township to receive an assignment. The donated gifts are distributed by Township staff in private appointments with the recipients. The process is confidential for both donors and recipients. For more information, please call Jeanne Winsted Rosser at 847.446.8201 or jwinstedrosser@newtriertownship.com.

Residents may also contribute to the work of the Township through the New Trier Township Angel Fund. Some Township residents who desperately need financial aid but who are not eligible for assistance from public funds can receive support from the Angel Fund. This fund can provide emergency assistance to pay for food, shelter, utilities, clothing, medical care and other necessities.  The Angel Fund also purchases items to create food gift bags for qualified seniors. The food gift bags are assembled by the young adult clients of Our Place of New Trier Township, and they are distributed by Township staff in conjunction with the staff of the North Shore Senior Center. The Angel Fund is supported solely by donations from private citizens and organizations, and 100% of donations are used to assist those in need. The Angel Fund is a registered 501(C)3 organization, so all donations are tax deductible. For information on how to donate, visit the Township website at www.newtriertownship.com or call the Township Office at 847.446.8202.