To Help Visit - Chicago.gov/Support or InstitutoChicago.org

With winter approaching, there is a need to provide new arrivals with winter coats and warm clothing along with other essential items. On Wednesday, August 31 the City of Chicago began welcoming asylum seekers bused from Texas to Chicago. To date the City has welcomed more than 3,000 new arrivals and they include individuals, families, children, and infants seeking refuge.

The City of Chicago launched a website with information on volunteer opportunities and how to donate goods at Chicago.gov/Support. Now, residents and organizations can also support the City’s response by purchasing items directly from an Amazon Wish List set up by Instituto del Progreso Latino as part of their New Arrival Response Effort in partnership with the City and nonprofit partners working tirelessly to welcome new arrivals. You can find the Wish List by clicking Rapid Response Wish List on Amazon or at InstitutoChicago.org.

With cold weather coming in the next few weeks, warm clothing and winter coats are some of the items urgently needed.

• New clothing for adults (including winter clothes)
• Men’s sizes small, medium, and large – in particular medium
• Women’s sizes small, medium, and large – in particular medium
• Men’s underwear (new)
• Women’s underwear (new)
• Women’s sports bras (new)
• Long sleeve shirts (men, women, children, unisex)
• Sweatshirts/sweaters (men, women, children, unisex)
• Sweatpants (men, women, children, unisex)
• Pants (men, women, children)
• Socks (men, women, children, unisex)
• Shoes (closed toe gym shoes) (infants, boys, girls, men, and women)
• Shoelaces
• Winter coats (men, women, children, infants)

Only NEW items will be accepted at this time. The best way to donate items is to utilize the Amazon Wish List.

Items that are not purchased via the Wish List should be brought to one of the designated donation drop-off location sites around the City. These drop-off locations include several Aldermanic offices and the City Clerk’s Office on the first floor of City Hall (121 N. LaSalle Street). We will update the donations list as we continue a detailed needs assessment. For additional inquiries, please email: DONATIONS@cityofchicago.org.

As a welcoming city, we know Chicagoans are ready to show their generosity and are looking for ways to support these individuals. However, our shelter partners at this time cannot accept “walk-up” volunteers, and due to security and safety concerns for minors on-site, there is a registration process to become a volunteer. If you wish to volunteer, please complete the volunteer registration form found on the website Chicago.Gov/Support.

In addition to City of Chicago donations drive at Chicago.Gov/Support, our partners at the County also have an Amazon Wish List for Cook County Health which is working directly with families at CCHealthFoundation.org/Amazon Wish List. Please note, donations will not be accepted directly at any of the facilities housing the new arrivals. You can also support with a monetary donation to trusted, reputable, voluntary, or charitable organizations. For additional details visit, Illinois.gov/ready/pages/Asylum.