The Willow Creek Care Center is committed to fighting poverty and injustice so that lives are transformed and Jesus is known. By sharing the hope and love of Christ while meeting basic needs and offering long-term solutions, your gifts help empower people toward a more stable future while promoting Care Center values.
Dignity • Hope • Transformation
There are many ways to support the Care Center. From donating groceries, clothes, or even a car, the Care Center welcomes a variety of goods to help serve our community. Explore the information below to learn more about how you can join us on mission!
How can I invest in the Willow Creek Care Center Mission?
Give a one time or recurring gift on our secure giving link. Our safe and secure online giving platform allows for a specific dollar amount to be deducted automatically from a checking/savings account or debit/credit card. Setting up a recurring gift is a most efficient way to provide ongoing support to the valuable programs at the Care Center.
If you prefer, mail your gift to the Willow Creek Care Center at 67 East Algonquin Road, South Barrington, IL 60010. Include your name and address on the check or envelope so that your gift will be credited for tax purposes. Designate Willow Creek Care Center in the memo on your check.
All gifts to the Willow Creek Care Center directly offset program expenses that serve more than 10,000 families each year.
How Can I Help Resource the Food Store?
The Care Center offers a full-choice food pantry for fresh produce, bread, canned goods, meat and more free of charge. Our food remains stocked thanks to personal item donations, partnerships and corporate product donors.
Our food remains stocked thanks to personal item donations, partnerships and corporate product donors. Below is a list of our greatest needs today:
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Foil and Parchment Paper
- Diapers (all sizes)
- Spices
- Body Soap
- Shampoo
- Cooking supplies
- Baby food
While the items above represent our biggest needs that our guests do not normally receive, the following donations are also welcomed and appreciated:
- Unexpired, individually wrapped, commercially-packaged food
- Canned items in good condition; with a label, free of dents and rust
- Peanut butter, jelly, soup, cereal, tuna, rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, chili, and other non-perishables
- Items that meet dietary needs, e.g., gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-based, and vegetarian options
Donations can be received on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during Care Center operating hours.
Over the past two years, as the Care Center has seen a drastic rise in new guests, many who are refugees or immigrants from Venezuela and Ukraine, we’ve become increasingly aware of the disparity between our food selection and the large number of Hispanic, Latinx and Eastern European guests that we serve. By providing an increased selection of cultural/ethnic foods, we hope to become a beacon for immigrants and refugees by offering a sense of familiarity, comfort, and belonging as they tangibly experience the love of God.
Culturally responsive food item donations include:
- Flavors & Seasonings: Plastic Jars of Garlic, Salt & Pepper, Garlic Powder, All Purpose Seasoning, Onion powder, Tajin, Turmeric, Coriander, Bouillon, Honey
- Rice: Long Grain Rice, Jasmine Rice, Brown Rice, Basmati rice
- Ingredients: Flax Seed, Masa Flour, Vegetable or Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Sugar, Brown Sugar
Our entire refugee community also appreciates fresh fruits and veggies. The best way to equip us to cover these needs are by donating to the Care Center by clicking HERE.
We are always looking for vendors and corporate sponsors to partner with us on donating bulk items: ie. frozen meat, pizza and dairy products. If you know of a partner who might be interested in helping, please email carecenter@willowcreek.org.
If your company, group, or organization would like to start a donation drive on our behalf, we would be honored! Donation Drives play an important role in supplying our most needed items that are hard to acquire or deplete quickly. Please email carecenter@willowcreek.org for more information on how to host a donation drive.
How Can I Help Donate to the Clothing Store?
The Clothing Store graciously accepts new or gently used clothing and shoes for adults and children in any size.
Our greatest needs today are:
- Boys and Girls Clothing, sizes 6-12 including:
- Underwear (must be brand new)
- Socks (must be brand new)
- Hoodies
- Jeans
- Short Sleeve Shirts
When donating clothing to the Care Center, please note:
- Children’s socks, undergarments, pajamas, and swimwear in any size must be brand new
- Please rubber-band shoes together so pairs do not get separated
We cannot accept donations of furniture, electronics, or CRT monitors.
Donations can be dropped off during Care Center hours or at any time in the outdoor collection bins* located under the Care Center drive-up canopy.
Receipts are only given for donations received in person by a Care Center representative during our open hours. Donations dropped in the bins are not eligible for a receipt.
If your company, group, or organization would like to start a donation drive on our behalf, we would be honored! Donation Drives play an important role in supplying our most needed items that are hard to acquire or deplete quickly. Please email carecenter@willowcreek.org for more information on how to host a donation drive.
How can I donate to the C.A.R.S. Ministry?
Did you know that the donation of 1 car has the ability to help a family in need, or fund the repair of up to 25 guest vehicles through our C.A.R.S. Ministry? The Care Center accept cars, motorcycles, RVs and boats donated in any condition.
The Care Center accepts cars, motorcycles, RVs and boats donated in any condition.
- Qualified vehicles are repaired and cleaned, then given to approved families in need of transportation.
- Junk and clunkers are sold, with proceeds used toward the repair of other vehicles.
To donate your vehicle, fill out the online donation form.
Donations are accepted during hours of operation. C.A.R.S. is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
C.A.R.S will pick up your vehicle, free of charge.
Can I make a non-cash financial gift?
Non-cash gifts are a welcome support to the Care Center.
A tax deduction is provided for the fair market value (FMV) of your securities at the time of gifting without capital gains tax on the difference between your cost and the FMV. Note your gift should be applied to the Care Center. Any questions, please email the contributions team.
To make a gift through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), ask your DAF representative to send your gift to the Willow Creek Care Center at 67 East Algonquin Road, South Barrington, IL 60010 and include your name and Care Center designation with the gift.
If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can provide a gift to the Care Center through your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) as a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD). Your gift will not be taxed when sent to a charity. Contact your financial advisor for assistance in this efficient method of supporting the Care Center.
A gift given in memory or honor of a loved one is a fitting way to acknowledge dedicated volunteerism or passion for the Care Center’s mission in one’s lifetime. To track and report gifts to the family/honoree accurately, forward the auto thank-you message (for online gifts) to onlinecontributions@willowcreek.org with the name of who you are memorializing or honoring. For checks, please include their name in the memo line.
A gift summary is sent to the family/honoree, including a list of contributors and the total amount given. Families or honoree, please email the main contact’s name and address to receive the gift summary to onlinecontributions@willowcreek.org.
Gifts of life insurance, retirement assets, bequests, and through a charitable gift fund. Details can be obtained when you contact the Willow Creek Accounts Receivable Department or call (224) 512-6636.
Every Gift is Highly Valued and Appreciated
On behalf of every Care Center guest whose life is made brighter because of your investment, thank you. You are blessing many lives with dignity, hope and transformation.
For questions about giving in support of the Care Center, contact us at carecenter@willowcreek.org
Per IRS regulations, gifts made to the Care Center must be received or postmarked by December 31 in order to receive donation credit for tax purposes in that year.