Neighbor News
Hard-Hit Families Need Community’s Help This Holiday Season
Help a child in need receive a gift
An Evanston non-profit agency is asking the community to help boost its annual holiday campaign that provides gifts to children.
Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, an early childhood education provider, has operated the Family-to-Family campaign for 17 years. Without help from this campaign, some IWSE children will not receive holiday gifts or meals this year.
“This year has been especially hard for our families, with food, gas, and rent prices at historically high levels and the freezing of SNAP benefits in November,” said Infant Welfare Society Executive Director Stephen Vick. “Families are struggling to provide food and other basic necessities.”
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Vick said 80 percent of the families it serves are low income, with 41 percent living in poverty.
“Our goal simply is to help parents and caregivers make the holidays joyful for their children,” Vick said.
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Donations of any amount can be made online by going to the donate button at iwse.org or by mailing or dropping off a check at 2200 Main Street, Evanston, IL, 60202. The agency typically receives donations from individuals, but businesses, groups, clubs, and houses of worship are encouraged to donate as well.
The agency collects donations through December 5. Once the campaign ends, the agency divides the total received among the IWSE families who signed up for assistance. The agency strives to provide $50 per person. The agency helped 175 children and family members last year and expects the same in 2025. IWSE will need to raise nearly $9,000 to achieve its goal.
Infant Welfare Society of Evanston has been serving the community for 112 years. It provides three programs: Baby Toddler Nursery, Teen Baby Nursery, and Family Support Home Visiting. The agency serves children from birth to 5, with an emphasis on birth to 3. The agency also supports parents.
“We know this community cares deeply for its children,” Vick said. “And this is a direct way to help children have a good holiday this year. All the money we raise goes directly to children and families.”
For more information, contact Director of Development and Communications Diana Newton at diananewton@iwse.org or 847-491-9650.
