As you have likely heard and read, Chicago is experiencing a migrant crisis. Since August of 2022, over 13,000 asylum seekers have been bussed and flown to Chicago with no systems in place for their arrival or care. More are coming. These men, women and children are escaping financial ruin, starvation, and abuse, as their own country experiences economic collapse and government breakdown.

While there are surely different political attitudes and opinions regarding this situation, one thing is clear: each and every one of these people is a fellow human being in need of immediate help. As asylum seekers they receive no government assistance, but rather depend on the generosity of others and private institutions, such as our parish.

There are many opportunities to help. . . to answer His call.
Meal Delivery • Item Donations • Food Pantry Donations • Medical Care • Tutoring, Legal Services, and More

Although citywide plans and programs are currently in flux, you can help right now. Motivated by Christ’s call to demonstrate mercy—attending to the needs of others with compassion and love—you can offer assistance through the many opportunities listed below.

This page will be updated regularly, so check back often for new and changing opportunities.

Special Opportunity

Make Meals for Residents of Madonna House

St. Clement Parish is partnering with Catholic Charities to reopen the Madonna House for migrant women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse. As an LPOT mission, we are partnering with St. Teresa’s and St. Josaphat’s to provide Wednesday dinners to these families, beginning January 31st. 

Volunteers are needed to make meals at your home and drop them off at the ICSJ on Wednesdays before 12 noon. See the meal sign-up link below. (Meal delivery to Madonna House is not required, however if you’re interested in delivering meals, contact Allie at aklazura@icsjparish.org).

▶︎ Sign up for a date to Make a Meal
▶︎ You can also donate to ICSJ’s Migrant Response Fund, which supports this effort and the various outreach efforts of ICSJ’s Migrant Ministry

Volunteers are needed to make meals at your home and drop them off at the ICSJ on Wednesdays before 12 noon. See the meal sign-up link below. We are also looking for volunteers to undergo training to become our meal delivery drivers in order to perform drop off to Madonna House on Wednesday afternoons between 2 & 4. If you’re interested in delivering meals, contact Allie at aklazura@icsjparish.org).

Item Donations

The Church of the Ascension

The Church of the Ascension, 1133 N LaSalle Street (directions), has a free store for migrants that’s open Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The store accepts donations of just about all gently-used items including but not limited to: clothing, kitchen items, suitcases, books and toys, diapers and formula, bedding furniture, etc. If it’s something you use in your home, they will be able to use it in theirs!

▶︎ To arrange a donation drop-off, contact Liz at 920-254-4735 or elizabethkohlbeck@yahoo.com.

Park Community Church

Park Community Church at 1001 N Crosby Street in River North (directions) is collecting clothing for Refugee Free Stores in Rogers Park. 

▶︎ For information on how to donate, call Ruth at 312-833-2569

Christ Lutheran Church

Christ Lutheran Church at 3253 W Wilson Avenue is collecting donations to serve a great number of migrants. 

▶︎ To learn what items are most needed, please call 773-478-7941

Chicago Furniture Bank

Chicago Furniture Bank, in partnership with New Life Centers, is providing furniture to new arrivals resettling into permanent housing. They’re also the largest provider of free furniture to Chicago’s unhoused population. In order to sustain their current operation, they need your help. Spread the word among your constituents and encourage them to donate extra furniture to our unhoused neighbors, including new arrivals!

▶︎ Donation drop-offs can be made at CFB (directions) Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
▶︎ For pick-ups, please submit a Furniture Pick-Up Request Form.

Instituto del Progreso Latino

For residents and organizations interested in making a quick and direct impact, Instituto del Progreso Latino is now accepting monetary donations to purchase items for new arrivals in bulk. Additionally, you can purchase items directly from an Amazon Wish List set up in partnership with Instituto del Progreso Latino. This Wish List is regularly updated to meet the needs of new arrivals in the City’s shelters and respite facilities.

▶︎ Make a monetary donation or shop their Amazon Rapid Response Wish List

Cradles to Crayons

Cradles to Crayons Chicago is partnering with New Life Centers to provide clothing, shoes, and basic essential items for new arrivals. Cradles to Crayons Chicago is the only large-scale organization addressing clothing insecurity: the lack of access to affordable, adequate, and appropriate clothing. The organization provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive through their service partners. In order to fulfill the need in Chicago, they need donations of gently used clothing, shoes, and winter coats as well as new socks, underwear, and pajamas.

▶︎ Find a C to C drop-off location near you or shop their Amazon Wish List.

One Warm Coat

One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that provides free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. In addition, One Warm Coat is coordinating donations of new outerwear for migrant families in Chicago through its Zero Waste Initiative. One Warm Coat is also accepting monetary donations (minimum of $5,000) to purchase new coats at wholesale prices. Please visit the One Warm Coat website for more information.

▶︎ Find a Location to Donate Coats
▶︎ Register to Hold a Coat Drive

Cradles to Crayons

Cradles to Crayons Chicago is partnering with New Life Centers to provide clothing, shoes, and basic essential items for new arrivals. Cradles to Crayons Chicago is the only large-scale organization addressing clothing insecurity: the lack of access to affordable, adequate, and appropriate clothing. The organization provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive through their service partners. In order to fulfill the need in Chicago, they need donations of gently used clothing, shoes, and winter coats as well as new socks, underwear, and pajamas.

▶︎ Find a C-to-C drop-off location near you or shop their Amazon Wish List

Share Our Space

Share Our Spare ensures every Chicago area child, ages 0-5, has the essential items they need to support their health and development and equip them for a strong start through donations of new and gently used early childhood items which are redistributed through Share Our Space’s network of 150+ other nonprofit organizations who work directly with young children and their families who are experiencing poverty..

▶︎ Accepted Items List
▶︎ Donation Drop-Off Schedule
▶︎ Amazon Gift Registry

Food Pantry Donations

Give to the following food pantries serving Chicago’s migrants:

▶︎ Pilsen Food Pantry: Make a Donation
▶︎ Nourishing Hope Food Pantry: Make a Donation

Donate Monetarily

Many Chicago organizations can get much-needed supplies to migrants through your generous donations.

▶︎ Southwest Collective
▶︎ Instituto del Progreso Latino
▶︎ Donate to ICSJ’s Migrant Response Fund which supports the various outreach efforts of ICSJ’s Migrant Ministry

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteer as a Tutor

Project Education Plus has regular after-school tutoring and now English-language-learning tutoring. Tutoring takes place at Holy Family Church at 542 W Hobbie Street (directions) from 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Spanish speaking is not necessary, but helpful. 

▶︎ To tutor or volunteer, contact Vince Carter at 312-520-0905 or pepdemons@aol.com

Volunteer Legal Services

If you are an attorney or third-year law student, volunteer your legal aid service (training provided for assisting immigrants).

▶︎ Learn More About Legal Assistance
▶︎ Enlace Beyond Legal Aid Clinic

Volunteer With the National Immigrant Justice Center

▶︎ View Bilingual Flyer for More Information

New Life Center Warehouse

▶︎ Learn More About Serving Opportunities

Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory

▶︎ Volunteer at The Giving Factory

Support/Donate To Medical Care

Community Health

CommunityHealth is one of the largest volunteer-based health centers in the nation and provides primary and specialty care, medications, lab testing, mental health services, and health education at no charge to low-income, uninsured and underinsured adults in Chicago. CommunityHealth accepts many gifts from foundations and donor-advised funds, as well as gifts of stock and cryptocurrency.

▶︎ Donate to Community Health

The Mobile Migrant Health Team 

Throughout the summer, the Mobile Migrant Health Team’s (MMHT) responsibilities have grown and their teams have been entrusted by the City of Chicago to address a few emergent situations: They are the first and only medical team to have provided care to the hundreds of migrants currently living at O'Hare airport.

▶︎ Donate to MMHT

For more information, please contact Allie at 312-787-7174, ext 3, or via email.