Volunteer Center Helps » It Was a Record-Breaking MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY on Saturday, October 28th!

Hundreds of people cleaned out their closets to benefit 15 outstanding nonprofits at this year’s Make A Difference Day, sponsored by the Volunteer Center.

Make a Difference Day is always a fun and meaningful event that mobilizes our local community to do something good for the organizations who work year-round to do good for so many. It’s also a great opportunity for your family, neighborhood, school or community group to work together to make a difference. And this year we broke all records!

Cars lined up for hours, waiting to deliver almost 24,000 donations, ranging from children’s clothes to sporting goods to household items — even prom dresses and eyeglasses. An army of volunteers sorted and packed donations into the waiting vehicles of the grateful nonprofits. Everyone went home feeling the Spirit of Giving alive and well in our community.

Many thanks to the donors, the volunteers, the participating nonprofits — and the hard-working Volunteer Center Board who made it all happen!

Make A Difference Day 2017

: VC Board member Colleen Harlow checking in a donor.

: …who brought a trunkload of donations for 15 grateful nonprofits (photo cred Gail Schnitzer).

: Counseling Center of the North Shore collected over 4,000 donations!

: Lots of volunteers needed to unload cars and sort almost 25,000 donations — our biggest year ever!

: VC Board members Sherry Molitor and Susan Moller checking in the constant stream of cars…

: Cars line up all morning to unload their Make a Difference Day donations

: Junior League of Evanston collected a carload of purses!

: Orphans of the Storm filled their truck with supplies for homeless pets.

: Working Bikes with a truckload of donations at Make a Difference Day.

: VC Board Treasurer Beth Anaclerio thanks a nonprofit for the difference they make in our community.

: Webster, an Orphans of the Storm dog, dressed in a red scarf for the occasion.

: VC Board member Laura Cullen Roche, Cubs Fan!

2017 Make A Difference Day Participating Nonprofits

Bernie’s Book Bank	Children's books through 6th grade -- fiction and nonfiction (they do NOT accept comic, activity, text, reference books)
Northwestern University Settlement House	Children's clothing -- infant through preteen
Connections for the Homeless	Men's clothes, shoes, outerwear, linens, blankets, towels, duffel bags, small wheeled luggage
Counseling Center of the North Shore	Women's clothing, formal wear, fine shoes
Gear 4 Goals	Sports equipment
Glass Slipper Project	Prom dresses, accessories
Goodwill	Any extra and unassigned items
Hadley Institute for the Blind & Visually Impaired	Eyeglasses and cases
Infant, Inc.	Size 1 diapers, powdered baby formula
Junior League of Evanston/NS	Purses, unopened travel-size toiletries
New Trier Township Food Pantry	Nonperishable foods, paper goods, detergent
Orphans of the Storm	Pet supplies, food, old towels, newspapers
Refugee One	Coats and boots -- all ages
Working Bikes	Bikes and bicycle parts -- ANY condition
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago	School supplies, backpacks, educational games and puzzles