6 Homewood-Flossmoor Nonprofits To Support This Holiday Season

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR, IL — If you’re like many of your Homewood-Flossmoor neighbors, you may spend a good part of the holiday season with your credit card in hand buying gifts for family and friends. Coming up soon is a chance to give back to the local community.

Giving Tuesday, which in 2024 falls on Dec. 3, is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofit and community groups. Since 2012, nonprofits worldwide have used the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.

Maintaining funding is a constant challenge for many nonprofits that fill gaps and meet other needs in the Homewood-Flossmoor area.

1. South Suburban Humane Society: The South Suburban Humane Society (SSHS) incorporated in 1970 as a small group of volunteers who brought homeless pets into their homes and worked to find them permanent homes. From those humble origins, it grew to a 501c3 nonprofit organization operating a 19,000 square foot animal resource campus in Matteson, that takes in more than 4,000 pets annually, a Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, a Low-Cost Veterinary Services Clinic, and a variety of far-reaching community services. The SSHS annually impacts 20,000 pets and the people who love them through these programs. Find out more.

2. Anew: Building Beyond Violence & Abuse: Based in Homewood, this agency provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence. It serves approximately 1,300 survivors and their children annually, providing a 24-hour bilingual hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy, counseling for adults and children, transitional and rapid rehousing. They also provide a bilingual partner abuse intervention program for men and women who have used violence and abuse in their intimate partner relationships. To end abuse and create safe communities, it will take everyone and every organization to stop the cycle. Donate online here.

3. You Matter 2: A vibrant community committed to fostering leadership and personal growth among south suburban youth. Through dynamic programs and initiatives, You Matter 2 empowers young minds, celebrates cultural heritage, and inspires community engagement. Find out how to donate.

4. The Cancer Support Center: This nonprofit works to provide hope, help, and strength through wholistic programs and services, created and delivered personally, virtually, and in ideal settings by professional therapists, counselors, nutritionists, and healthcare experts. With five distinct areas of programming, they work to improve the quality of life in our participants near and far at no cost. Find out how to donate.

5. Together We Cope: A prevention agency based in Tinley Park, Together We Cope provides resources to families in temporary crisis, enabling them to stay in their homes. Since 1982, Together We Cope has been bridging the gap for south suburban residents in 27 communities by supplying food, shelter, clothing and referrals, empowering them to return to self-sufficiency. With over 200 volunteers, generous community donations of food, clothing and household goods, and groceries purchased from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, TWC serves more than 1,500 families each month. Donate here.

6. Crisis Center for South Suburbia: The Crisis Center for South Suburbia is a non-profit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and addresses the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence. The crisis center offers a 24-hour hotline and other victim services, including emergency shelter, housing, prevention, outreach, advocacy and education. Make an online donation here.