Community Services/Non-Profits in Chicago, IL

“I rely on the Chicago Tool Library more than any other resource in the city! Many of us want to get into DIY, but it is expensive getting all of the tools. Not to mention if you are living in an apartment, like me, there is no place to put everything. Chicago Tool Library has allowed me to practice new skills without draining my money and worrying about space. They are always kind and helpful, while putting community first. I tell everyone to check them out!”

“The hours kind of frustrate me but I do my best to drop off donations and get classroom resources there.
PLEASE NOTE: parking is a bit difficult because it fills quickly, so bring a friend, a traveling cart or boxes/bags,to help you carry items out.”

“What a gem!! I wandered in here unexpectedly yesterday and was so delighted. They’ve got an incredible selection of books and I loved browsing the store. So many $5 books! My problem is that my backpack was full already so I’ll be back today prepared to purchase ?”

“A WAREHOUSE of craft supplies! I flew in for a conference for a nonprofit and needed supplies for creative activities. Found so many items, from fabric to stamps to notecards and sticker makers! And the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable about their stock.”

“It was very clean. The kitties looked healthy. The kitties areas were clean. They are very friendly. They are very patient. I highly recommend this place to anybody that wants a kitty or is definitely new to having a kitty.”

“I truly wanted to just keyboard smash while typing this because that's the only way to express how precious and wonderful this experience is! Getting to play with and pet the kitties while their new forever home people came to pick them up was delightful. Very healing and soothing, and fun to meet the other folks who made reservations for the same hour. Everything was so clean and pristine, and the cats are clearly well cared for and adored by the staff. 1000/10, this is a uniquely lovely place to stop by for cat enjoyers and people looking to adopt or donate to a good cause. *Edited to add some photos of a few of the kitties”

“My son returned from a field trip from the Hatchery and has not stopped raving about his experience! Thank you Quintin and staff for making such a positive impression on my son!”

“Awesome place. Have every part you could need and the volunteers know where to find stuff to help you get it installed. I was so confused on what to do when my front wheel got stolen. I was in and out and happy within an hour of open shop.

The parts are also very affordable so it comes highly recommended to make a donation to help the place keep running. Thanks to Will and Zippy and the rest of the volunteers I didn’t meet!”

“So grateful to have something like this in Chicago, always my first stop when I need supplies and I usually find more treasures than I was looking for. Thanks for being awesome!”

“I had the privilege of volunteering at Lurie’s and had an amazing time with my team. Great staff with a great heart who have been taking such good care of people going thru hard times. It’s amazing how much good food and community can make ones like so much brighter!”

“I’ve consistently been impressed by Midwest Care Management Services' dedication and professionalism to not only the providers they interact with but most importantly their clients. Their approach to care management is both compassionate and thorough, ensuring that clients receive the support and resources they need, while balancing many factors.

Staffis knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely committed to improving the well-being of those they serve. It’s evident that they prioritize both quality care and strong partnerships within the community.”

“Wonderful place to dine and have a noteworthy event...THEE view from THEE balcony looking over Lake Michigan and DuSable Lake Shore Drive( spectacular view) and THEE staff is professional and friendly.”

“Our 28 year old son has been a resident at Misericordia. They are the most caring and loving people. We have a 31 year old daughter who is also special needs. She lives in a group home that is not run by Misericordia. The organization who run her group home are good, but not on the same level.”

“It's a place to help people who want to become sober. They have pot meetings as well as alcohol meetings and Alon meetings. They have mostly alcohol meetings very good place can sit on porch and fellowship all day from 8:00am to 9:00 pm.”

“My case manager signed me up for the Cycle of Power Program and I quickly received a refurbished bicycle, bike lock, lights, and helmet! It rides like a dream and is enabling me to commute to from point a to point b with ease. I can now doordash on my new bike and I'm getting back into shape. Thanks working bikes. I love your mission.”

“This organization is exceptional in its work within our community. I am very happy that they are here and serving not only our community’s needs but also serving in a more global way.”

“Heavenly experience! Where do I begin? The class teacher, Sue, is a thought provoking mentor. She is the Tim Gunn of the Chicago Mosaic School, and I mean this in the highest regard possible.

Taking a class in this space is the equivalent of being in “The Chocolate Factory”. (Come with me, and you’ll see, a world of true imagination). A color prism of glass sheets. Milky Italian smalti. All shapes, sizes, and textures of slates, stones and beach pebbles. All the doodads one could imagine!

The location to CTA transport is ideal. Also, there are multiple food spots within a block of the studio.

I flew into OHare airport, and took the L train Blue line to bus 152, which dropped me off a block from my accommodations. It cost me 25$ to get around the city for 7 days (I purchased the weekly pass on my first trip into the city). I stayed at the Wrigley Hostel, which is a block off the Addison redline. Great price for a secure location, and ideal for me since I spent most of my time at class anyway, and just needed a place to rest my head at night. Also some great food nearby (Cozy Noodle is about 5 houses down).
10/10 experience! I am already browsing the website for my next class!

Thank you for everything, and special gratitude to Sue- I appreciate you!

Below are the two pieces I made in my 2.5 day mosaic 1 intensive.”

“First rate business in screen printing uniforms for whatever your need. Very courteous, friendly service with fair pricing. Tom and the staff always accommodating to its patrons!”

“Laura is amazing. Due to some financial issues and other problems My elderly ants electric got turned off. We went there and we spoke with Laura and she really went out of her way to help us. Told me exactly what I needed told me exactly what time they closed and did everything she could to resolve my issue. I was supposed to call her back in 3 days but my power was back on today so thank you Laura”

“They took care of juice. A stray Yorkie i brought in & adopted in 4 days! He had matted fur & looked like he's been through hell. They took him in took care him & also sent me ok way with a goodie bag for free. I Love the stsff especially Bri!! Thank you guys”

“Palette and Chisel is one of Chicago’s hidden gems. It’s a welcoming, inspiring community where artists of all skill levels can learn, grow, and create together. The instructors are exceptional, and the sense of camaraderie makes it a truly special place. I’m so thankful to be part of this amazing artistic family. ❤”

“(Translated by Google) My experience was wonderful, they should give more information about this help for the community from health, immigration cases, family help and, above all, their 100% professional and kind-hearted staff, they answer your questions, I recommend them(Original)Mi experiencia fue maravillosa deberían dar más información sobre esta alluda para la comunidad desde la salud casos de inmigración alluda familiar y sobre todo su personal 100% profesional y de buen corazón responden tus dudas se los recomiendo”

“After 5:00 summer series Wednesday wine down:I recently visited Little Black Pearl, and I have to say the energy when I walked in was great. I was surrounded by such positive, welcoming people of all ages. Throughout the night, we sang karaoke, played cards, shot pool and listened to good music. What really stood out to me was how safe, inclusive, and comfortable the environment felt. Everyone was so kind and genuine. But what truly touched my heart was how the community embraced my brother, who is special needs. There was no judgment only acceptance, laughter, and open arms. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I had to be on guard, watching to make sure he was being treated with respect because everyone just welcomed.
It was a relaxing night filled with connection and joy. I would absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, warm, and safe space. Thank you for such an unforgettable experience.”

“For residents of 60618 & 60641. Set up like a grocery store, with plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, eggs cheese, breads, canned goods. Even pet food! Staff is friendly, helpful & respectful, many staff speak Spanish or Polish.”

“I first connected with the Hartwell Place team via the Edgewater Public Library Memory Cafe, a welcoming and supportive meet up every third Friday of the month for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers. Hartwell Place regularly attends with a bus-load of fun-loving seniors. What really struck me was how the Hartwell team doted on my mom, Vivian, who is not a resident, and how genuinely kindly and compassionately they treated everyone. Getting to know the team over the course of several shared Memory Cafes really flipped my conception of traditional memory and senior care on its ear.

And it extended beyond the Memory Cafes. Hartwell Place invited us to their ice cream socials, neighborhood awareness walks, caregiver training sessions and more. They made us feel like part of the family.

Vivian has advanced Alzheimer's and needs support with all the activities of daily living. I'm very selective and protective about her care and in fact retired early to devote full time to it as her needs increased. Our family is out of state and it is difficult for me to entrust her care to others. The tradeoff I willingly made was less breaks for myself. But when Hartwell Place announced they were opening up a Day Club, it was a no brainer for us.

Vivian lit up the first time I dropped her off. She was like a movie star who was lovingly escorted by an entourage of fans. The club is customized and personalized to fit her needs, with a small enough enrollment to feel comfortable and safe. Her smiles continued at the end of the day when I picked her up, and I soon after scheduled another session. The team is highly responsive to check-ins but at the same time respectful and encouraging of the caregivers' need to unplug.

Hartwell Place Day Camp gave me peace of mind and mom a joyful social outlet and sense of community. It definitely ranks as a favorite happy place. I can confidently recommend Hartwell Place as an excellent and caring resource for elder care.”

“It's an amazing organization. They offer a variety of programs for parents to participate in that enrich both parent and child. The staff is smart, creative, friendly and supportive. The work that they're doing for the neighborhood and families is God sent.”

“Not only are the staff AWESOME, but this whole organization is so wholesome! Made my first donation yesterday and will definitely be back later this week to donate many more things. I was told social workers come everyday to "shop" (pick out what's needed). All I needed to do was complete a SHORT google from, took less than 5 minutes.”

“A beautiful service for a long time respected leader. I was a spectator in the crowd because of security reasons. Which I understand completely. It was my small way of honoring a great man and his legacy.”

“I recently learned of this charity and decided to organize a shoe drive for Ms. Mona. This lady is the real deal , she is truly dedicated to this necessary and often overlooked cause. She does all the hard work with very little help. If you are considering a charity I recommend this one.”

“We are relatively new to the USA. Last summer, after moving to Chicago, my We are relatively new to the USA. Last summer, after moving to Chicago, my wife and I decided to improve our English skills. My wife found an ad on the Internet for summer courses, which were organized by Trellus. To enroll, we had to take placement tests to determine our level. These were the first tests we took in the U.S. We were a bit nervous, but the staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. Based on the results of a computer test, reading, and writing exercises, we were placed in the highest-level classes offered by Trellus. That’s the only reason why, after passing the final test, we continued studying at a local college in the fall instead of staying with Trellus.

Now, with experience from other courses, I can say that the quality of teaching at Trellus was one of the best, and the teachers' motivation to help students was truly remarkable. The language program was designed to meet the practical needs of people who had recently arrived in the U.S. The practical tasks were based on real-life situations that people often face. You were constantly engaged in the learning process, and every day provided useful knowledge. Besides the main course, we had the chance to attend speaking and writing clubs. There was even an English language Olympiad, which was organized creatively and made the experience enjoyable. Afterwards, the organizers and participants treated each other to dishes from their national cuisines.

We remember our teachers at Trellus warmly and with gratitude. If you are in Chicago and need to improve your English or even start learning it from scratch, I highly recommend Trellus.er courses, which were organized by Trellus. To enroll, we had to take placement tests to determine our level. These were the first tests we took in the U.S. We were a bit nervous, but the staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. Based on the results of a computer test, reading, and writing exercises, we were placed in the highest-level classes offered by Trellus. That’s the only reason why, after passing the final test, we continued studying at a local college in the fall instead of staying with Trellus.
Now, with experience from other courses, I can say that the quality of teaching at Trellus was one of the best, and the teachers' motivation to help students was truly remarkable. The language program was designed to meet the practical needs of people who had recently arrived in the U.S. The practical tasks were based on real-life situations that people often face. You were constantly engaged in the learning process, and every day provided useful knowledge. Besides the main course, we had the chance to attend speaking and writing clubs. There was even an English language Olympiad, which was organized creatively and made the experience enjoyable. Afterwards, the organizers and participants treated each other to dishes from their national cuisines.
We remember our teachers at Trellus warmly and with gratitude. If you are in Chicago and need to improve your English or even start learning it from scratch, I highly recommend Trellus.”