Community Services/Non-Profits in Evanston, IL

“4.5/5

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Woman's Club, and the vast majority of our experience was very positive! We especially appreciated working with Gretchen, who is friendly and quick to respond when you have questions. The venue itself is beautiful, and it is a huge perk that they give you the entire building for your event. This meant that guests who needed a quiet moment during dinner and dancing could retreat downstairs. The venue even offered rooms that nursing mothers could use for privacy. The Woman's Club worked with our DJ to make sure the audio and lighting was all set up, so we did not have to worry about anything. It is also a huge perk that you do not have to rent any chairs or tables--these all come included in the price of the venue. Many of our guests complimented the beauty of the space, and everyone had a great time.

All of that being said, there are a couple of things that future couples who are interested in booking the Woman's Club should consider:
1. They only work with certain catering teams. The list includes around 6 caterers, and even though we were booking a year in advance, several of the companies on the list were already booked, so our options were very limited. To their credit, the Woman's Club makes this very clear from the beginning of the process before you book with them, but it is worth considering if you have a strict budget or a specific caterer that you want to work with. We happened to really like ours (The Caterist), but they definitely don't come cheap.
2. The Woman's Club's hours created some complications for us. They only opened to vendors at 2:00 pm on our wedding day, and our bakery that we had hired to make our wedding cake only does deliveries in the morning. There is no flexibility in terms of when they open, and this could have turned into a really frustrating situation if the head of our catering team had not offered to pick up our cakes on her way to the venue. This is definitely something to be aware of and something I do not believe was communicated clearly to us in advance.
3. If you are hoping to do a send-off with sparklers or bubbles, this is not your venue. Understandably, due to the age of the venue, they are very strict with materials that they will allow, even outside of the building. We had to use glow sticks. Just another thing to be aware of that I discovered only after I had already bought hundreds of bubble wands! Hopefully I will save someone else from an Amazon return.
4. Be aware that you cannot store anything in the venue overnight, so have a plan for your leftover cake and any additional items you want to bring home with you.

TLDR: This venue is beautiful and historic, and the staff is friendly and fast to respond to emails. Just make sure you are fully aware of the restrictions and have a plan to work around them!”

“I love The McGaw YMCA. I always feel welcomed and feel and a real sense of community there. I appreciate the variety of classes and the helpful and friendly staff. I'm so happy to be a part of this wonderful organization”

“I think very highly of this shelter. I saw the kittens and cats today as I donated a cat carrier and they are well taken care of and definitely will in the near future. They also are so nice and welcoming!”

“Our school district used Art Encounter to facilitate four unique murals. Working with Art Encounter was an incredible experience. They made this endeavor fun and exciting for both students and teachers. I'd recommend Art Encounter to anyone looking bring a creative project into their world. Thank you Art Encounter for a wonderful all around experience.”

“I have long heard about the Rotary Club and it's mission.
A friend invited to their Evanston Headquarters for their Nat'l Conclave held the July 18-20 wknd.
I took a tour and l was so plesantly surprised at just how worldwide and well thought out their scope is; Aids prevention programs, digging water well in dry areas in the world, helping out in the worldwide 'Save the Bee's program'.
I could go on and on, but l won't.
All l can say is check out this historic organization and see how they really help the world; and without a lot of whoopla or fanfare, and headline grabbing!
Go head Rotaries, the world needs you right now., more than ever.”

“My niece's baby shower was on their patio. Their staff was very nice and the grounds are lovely. There should be decent coverage if they're going to rent out their patio. The rain chased everyone in to a MUCH smaller covered area, so many of us left for infection control reasons. Had the rain been earlier, it would have destroyed the event. I'm sure they're not cheap. This is an unacceptable gamble. Also, be aware that their signage is completely inadequate and Google directions is inaccurate when approaching from the north. Look for a tiny sandwich sign placed right on the pavement to identify your turn into their parking lot, rather than the final street Google says you're supposed to turn on.”

“Happy New Year! Awesome place to assist you with your housing, food, employment and clothing needs. Great resources to have in the community with inflation being ridiculously high!!!”

“I am proud to have worked in the Cradle Nursery for 18 years. During that time I had a front row seat to the wonderful work done at The Cradle for the babies, the birth parents and the adoptive parents. The Cradle is truly a very special place and it was a privilege to have been a part of the wonderful work they do.”

“I am so incredibly grateful for the time my children and I spent at the here at the shelter. This place was more than just a temporary home—it was a safe haven during one of the most vulnerable times in my life. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed, protected, and supported in ways I never expected.

The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were cared for, emotionally and physically. I truly felt seen, heard, and never judged. Their compassion helped me begin to heal, and their encouragement gave me the strength to keep going. My children were also treated with so much kindness, which gave me peace as a parent knowing they were in such good hands.
Leaving isn’t easy. This place holds a special piece of my heart, and I will carry the lessons, growth, and love we found here with me into the next chapter of our lives. To everyone at Evanston (YWCA SHELTER) thank you. You made a lasting impact on our journey, and we will never forget your care.

With deep gratitude,
YG”