As the weather plummeted to record lows before the holidays, the LIFT-Chicago team hosted a winter gear distribution event. Our team gave out over 750 coats, gloves, hats and toys to LIFT members, families connected to our Bronzeville community partners, and new families arriving to Chicago via Instituto del Progreso Latino on December 16, 2022. We were able to host this amazing event thanks to our partners at Capital One Cafes, Cradles to Crayons, and BCG.
A core part of LIFT’s model is creating financial slack for families via our Family Goal Fund and supporting their basic needs. This includes basics and essentials like a much-needed winter coat! This support creates opportunities for families to allocate their funds towards other necessities, like rent, utilities, or their goals, and helps decrease stress, especially around the holidays.
LIFT-Chicago is incredibly grateful to the Chicago Capital One Café teams. In addition to providing over $4,000 of in-kind donations, Capital One Café employees sorted, labeled, and helped distribute coats and hot chocolate and cookie kits at our event!
What drew me to LIFT-Chicago was their commitment to investing in parents on the Southside of Chicago and their commitment to racial equity. As the Board Chair of LIFT-Chicago, it was great to see the program in action! LIFT values relationships and watching the love and trust between LIFT-Chicago parents and LIFT staff firsthand allowed me to experience the LIFT magic for myself.
Channing Lenert, LIFT-Chicago Board Chair