Warmest Winter
Providing relief for individuals experiencing homelessness through service, events, and direct supports
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Warmest Winter is a seasonal initiative inspiring others through service.
SocialWorks’ Warmest Winter aims to raise awareness and provide relief for individuals experiencing homelessness and extreme hardship through service, events, donations, and direct support.
Through Warmest, Winter SocialWorks offers communities both a chance to serve others and take care of themselves by providing direct access to resources through our events, A Night at the Museum and Winterfest. Warmest Winters is executed with citizens and businesses who believe in caring for each other!
A Night At The Museum
A Night at the Museum is a family-fun holiday event allowing guests to explore the Museum of Science and Industry after-hours, engaging with 50+ event-only activations, performers, and more!
This event also serves as a donation hub for those experiencing homelessness. Last year, guests donated over 18,000 warming items affecting shelters across Chicago. A warming item can be a coat or a blanket, but it can also be a new deck of cards or an old MP3 player with charger and headphones. All donations received at the museum will directly impact those experiencing homelessness in Chicago.
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SocialWorks' Warmest Winter 22-23
The Warmest Winter 22-23 campaign is underway! See opportunities to get involved below! This year there will be many opportunities for community members, vendors, and businesses, to volunteer, sponsor, and more. Email info@socialworkschi.com to learn more.
Stay updated on the Warmest Winter 22-23 by checking this page and ways to get involved below.
Sort Week! - Monday, February 6th - Thursday, February 9th
The objective for sorting week is to sort, count, and quality control the donations received from Q4's clothing drive. Once sorted and counted, items are distributed to shelters based on need and used for the resource fair, Winterfest. It's a great time to connect with the SocialWorks team, our partners, and your team while listening to good playlists.
Volunteer at SocialWorks' Sort Week
4th Annual Night at the Museum
The 4th A Night at the Museum returns to the Museum of Science & Industry Friday, December 16th! This family-focused event, benefiting the homeless, will welcome attendees to an evening of music, performances, interactive vendors, museum exhibits, giveaways, and more. We encourage all guests to support our efforts by bringing new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and toys for individuals experiencing homelessness. The SocialWorks team will distribute donated items to shelters in February. We hope to see you there!
Buy Tickets to A Night at the Museum
Volunteer at the 2022 Night at the Museum
A Night at the Museum is back, and SocialWorks needs your help! Join us as a volunteer for our 4th Annual A Night at the Museum on Friday, December 16th. Please ensure you can be present during all dates and times below! Thanks for your help, and we can’t wait to serve with you. Deadline to submit this form is 12p December 8th, 2022.
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- Orientation: Saturday, December 10th • Between 12pm – 5pm • Museum of Science & Industry (5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60637)
- Event Day: Friday, December 16th • Between 3:30pm – 10pm *there will be breaks :)* • Museum of Science & Industry (5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60637)
Register to Volunteer at A Night at the Museum
Give to the Warmest Winter Clothing Drive
#WarmestWinter is here, and SocialWorks is kicking off its 6th Annual Donation Drive! This year, the drive will happen from October 10, 2022, to December 4, 2022. The drive will collect NEW and GENTLY USED coats, warming items, hygiene items, and toys.
Click this link or see above to view the list of 19 donation locations across Chicago!
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[gallery ids="3097,3096,3090"]
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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Partnerships
