Don't Need Your Stimulus Check? Donate To Local NPOs In Need

Updated April 20 to include a statement from Palos Park Police Foundation President Carolyn Baca.

PALOS, IL — As the first round of stimulus checks continue to arrive in bank accounts and mailboxes of millions of Americans across the country, many recipients who already have steady sources of income are looking for ways to donate all or a portion of their funds. I've reached out to a number of non-profit organizations in the Palos area and beyond, and compiled the following list of worthy causes for your consideration:

Leave It To Us (COVID Senior Shoppers) | Orland Park, IL

Founded by Orland Park undergrad student Michael Arundel, Leave It To Us has been delivering groceries to seniors and other members of the high-risk population since the beginning of this world health crisis. While the majority of their operations are in the Chicagoland area, they are a growing organization. They currently operate in more than twenty cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Boston, and Phoenix. They are in desperate need of financial assistance to cover various operating expenses.

"We've started a GoFundMe page, but it's struggling to gain traction," Arundel said in an interview with Patch earlier this afternoon. "We're a fee-free service, so we rely on generous donations from community members to assist with covering card transaction fees, government filing fees, gas and other expenses".

So far they have raised $1,125 on their donation page. Arundel said the organization has helped hundreds of seniors around the country, and they hope to continue providing assistance to those in need for as long as the crisis continues.

The Center | Palos Park, IL

Home of the Children's Farm in Palos Park, The Center is an interfaith organization that normally operates a great variety of services and programs for the community. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, The Center's preschool, farm, arts center, luncheons, and gatherings have been put on pause. With more than two-thirds of revenue coming from fees charged for their programs and special events that can no longer be held, the organization is in great need of financial aid from the community. According to Farm Director Amy Didominicius, it costs more than $2,500 per month to feed the animals and provide necessary care. Funds are also needed to support The Center's Pathway to Sobriety program, an on-site residential program currently providing food, shelter, and counseling to fifteen men struggling with addiction.

Palos Park Police Foundation | Palos Park, IL

The Palos Park Police Foundation provides the police department with vital resources that are not included in the annual budget.

“The Palos Park Police Foundation was instituted 10 years ago in an effort to fund necessary equipment and training for our police officers that is not funded by the Village for a variety of reasons. The residents of Palos Park have been incredibly generous over the years and I can't thank them enough for their help. Most recently, the Foundation has provided funds for active shooter training, in-car camera equipment, disaster preparedness supplies, thermal imaging equipment, de-escalation training; report writing systems and other equipment and training that helps to keep our officers and our residents safe in these precarious times,” Foundation president Carolyn Baca wrote in a statement to Patch.

Making a contribution to the Palos Park Police Foundation is certainly a wonderful way to support the first responders that are out there keeping us safe 24/7. You can make a contribution on the PPPF's website.

Catholic Charities | Chicagoland

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago provides food, shelter, counseling, and financial assistance to those in need throughout Chicago and the suburbs. They're currently accepting donations on their website.

Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicagoland

The Greater Chicago Food Depository serves as a network for more than 700 food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens across the city and suburbs. The agency distributes nearly 200,000 meals throughout Cook County on a daily basis. They're currently accepting monetary donations on their website.

Service Employee Relief Funds | Chicagoland

You can use this spreadsheet as a map for locating the employee relief funds of your favorite hospitality businesses across the city and suburbs. The spreadsheet's organizers are actively accepting additional entries if you know of any employee relief funds that are not already listed.

Also consider ordering dinner from some of our local restaurants that remain open for take-out and delivery and purchasing gift cards for future use from other small businesses that are feeling the financial strain of this pandemic the most.

If you plan to use your check to fund an online shopping spree, be sure to start at Amazon Smile so that a portion, albeit quite small, of your transaction will be donated by Amazon to the charity of your choosing.

Do you know of any other non-profit organizations that should be added to this list? Leave a comment!