Warmest Winter
Providing relief for individuals experiencing homelessness through service, events, and direct supports
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Warmest Winter is a year-round initiative mitigating the realities of living while experiencing homelessness.
SocialWorks’ Warmest Winter aims to raise awareness and provide relief for individuals experiencing homelessness and extreme hardship through service, direct support, and experiences.
Community is bidirectional, and through the Warmest Winter, individuals can give and receive with dignity while also partaking in Chicago’s largest cultural events. Since launching in 2015, Warmest Winter has grown to hold an annual clothing drive, a yearly holiday event, volunteer opportunities, and quarterly excursions. Through Warmest Winter, we aim to lessen the effects of Chicago’s winter and isolation.
A Night At The Museum
“No event quite matches the energy, fun, and giving of A Night at the Museum. With this event we clothe those experiencing homelessness and bring together the businesses and people who uplift SocialWorks” says Chance the Rapper.
At A Night at the Museum guests can experience the magic of MSI’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit and engage with 50+ event-only vendors, activations, and performers. In addition to offering activities for families, the event aims to collect donations for those experiencing homelessness in Chicago. All guests are encouraged to bring and donate “warming” items, such as coats, scarves, gloves, toys, hygiene items, etc. -
SocialWorks' Warmest Winter 23-24
The Warmest Winter 23-24 campaign is underway! See opportunities to get involved below! There are many opportunities for community members, vendors, and businesses to volunteer, partner, sponsor, and more.
Stay updated on the Warmest Winter 23-24 by checking this page and ways to get involved below.
Upcoming Volunteer Alert! SocialWorks need support sorting donations that we've received from our #WarmestWinter donation drive. We have thousands of donations that need to be sorted and counted from A Night at the Museum, so if you're looking to volunteer for a couple of hours, we'd love for you to spend it with us! Check back in February 2024 for more details!
For $10 guests can experience the magic of MSI’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit, which features a forest of more than 50 trees —including a tree from SocialWorks—and engage with SocialWorks' 50+ event-only vendors, activations and performers, connect with Chance, and learn about SocialWorks.
In addition to offering activities for families, the event aims to collect donations for those experiencing homelessness in Chicago. All guests are encouraged to bring and donate “warming” items, such as coats, scarves, gloves, toys, hygiene items, etc.The #WarmestWinter Donation Drive is underway! The 2023 drive will happen from October 9th, 2023, to December 3rd, 2023, with the last stop being A Night at the Museum, December 21st. We're accepting NEW and GENTLY USED coats, warming items, hygiene items, and toys, and these items will directly benefit those experiencing homelessness. View the 18 locations within the flyer above and give this holiday season.
NO FOOD OR CANNED GOODS WILL BE COLLECTED.
If your business or organization wants to help spread the warmth by hosting a donation box for an event this season, email info@socialworkschi.comA Night at the Museum is back on December 21st, 2023!
A Night at the Museum is a family-fun holiday event allowing guests to explore the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) after-hours, engaging with 50+ event-only vendors, activations, performers, and more! This event also serves as a donation hub for those experiencing homelessness. During the last A Night at the Museum event in 2022, guests donated over 8,000 warming items affecting shelters across Chicago!
If you, your business, or your organization wants to help spread the warmth by being involved in A Night at the Museum this season, complete this interest form below!
The deadline to complete the Interest Form is October 8th, 2023 • 11:59pm
150,864
Meals Served*
*Since June 1, 2020 with Taste for the Homeless
164,912
Warming Items Collected*
*Items include Coats, Hats, Blankets, Gloves, Socks, Perishable Goods, & Hygiene Products
86
Unique Shelters Affected
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