It’s the season of giving thanks! This year, Ravenswood, we’re especially thankful for you. This is a special place: a community, led by the folks who live and work here, built on solidarity, togetherness, and uncompromising compassion.
The past few months have brought challenging times to our community. In times like these, it can be difficult to find space for moments of gratitude. But it’s important, as the days grow ever shorter, to find a little light. Below, you’ll find a mix of volunteer opportunities, donation drives, and more good news to lift your spirits and nourish the soul.
Did we forget to include something on this list? Let us know at info@ravenswoodchicago.org!
Thanksgiving Preorders Available Now!
Talk about gratitude! By shopping Thanksgiving preorders, you can support small business and save yourself a dozen or so hours of food prep. Spend your Thanksgiving holiday kicking back with loved ones, cold beer in hand, and–sigh–not a turkey baster in sight.
Vaca’s Creamery | 2324 W Giddings St
Farm Bar Ravenswood | 1970 W Montrose Ave
Spoken Cafe | 1812 W Montrose Ave
Mindful Baking | 1770 W Berteau Ave
Ravenswood Businesses Give Back
We’ve known for years that the Ravenswood small business community is a force to be reckoned with. We knew it during COVID-19, when small business owners went out of their way to keep neighbors safe and maintain a strong sense of community throughout quarantine. We knew it in the aftermath, when survival was tenuous at best for many small business owners and rows of once-occupied storefronts stood empty on once-thriving commercial corridors.
And we know it now, having arrived at this new juncture. Anywhere you look in Ravenswood, you can find community leaders and business owners diving headfirst into fundraising, mutual aid, and advocacy for the common good. We couldn’t be more thankful for these folks, who recognize where hope comes from, where actions go, and what strength there is to be found in community solidarity. Without further ado, here are some of our favorite ways Ravenswood businesses are supporting the community:
Get a Turkey from Nourishing Hope!
November 26, from 3-4 pm, Chicago Bears defensive tackle Chris Williams (#91) will be joining Nourishing Hope at Sheridan Market (3945 N Sheridan Rd) to help distribute 300 donated turkeys to neighbors. Even if someone has already received their monthly food distribution from Nourishing Hope, they are still eligible to come for a turkey during this event! Open to all neighbors in need.
Spoken Café hosts Community Supper Mondays
Federal funding cuts to critical programs like SNAP Assistance went into effect on November 1, impacting hundreds of thousands of food-insecure Chicagoans. Our friends at Spoken Cafe are holding pay-what-you-can community meals on Monday evenings to help neighbors in need. No one gets turned away for insufficient funds, and ALL proceeds go to various local food pantries. This program is running weekly for the foreseeable future. Visit their website
Bad Luck Club hosts Small Businesses, Big Hearts Fundraiser
This initiative unites more than 30 Ravenswood and Lincoln Square businesses to support vital local nonprofits like ICIRR, The Friendship Center, Common Pantry, and Ravenswood Community Services. Buy raffle tickets through 11/21 to support essential community services, celebrate local unity, and enter for a chance to win amazing prize packages! This fundraiser began with an idea at local favorite quirky retailer Bad Luck Club, who just celebrated their first anniversary in the neighborhood. Enter the raffle
47th Ward: Sponsor Holiday Gifts for a Family in Need
Alderman Matt Martin is again participating in Christmas in the Wards, a citywide program providing 10 families in each ward with a gift card for holiday assistance. This year, you can help out by donating to raise additional funds for more families! Your tax-deductible donation will help more children experience the joy and dignity of choosing holiday gifts with their loved ones. Read More
Drives and Donations
- Gio’s, Platform 47, Ponnopozz , and Ridman’s Coffee – You can now bring donations for The Friendship Center to Gio’s Bar & Grill, Platform 47, Ponnopozz, and Ridman’s Coffee during business hours until 12/19. More Info
- Centered Therapy Chicago – Centered Therapy Chicago is holding a drive among staff members and clients for The Friendship Center until 12/19! More Info
- Hazel Gift & Apparel – Your friends at Hazel will be accepting donations at both of their locations benefitting Common Pantry and The Friendship Center through 12/15/25! More Info
- Muscle & Joint Physical Therapy – Join M&JPT for a food drive at their Ravenswood clinic benefitting Ravenswood Community Services! Help your neighbors in need by donating items Monday-Thursday 7am-8pm and Fridays 7am-5pm. More Info
- The Attractivators Holiday Donation Drive – The Attractivators will be collecting donations for ICIRR this holiday season! Stop by the salon and donate any amount you wish – $20 or more, and you’ll get to go home with a free travel size product! More Info
- Stars for ICIRR with Lightwriters Neon – Lightwriters’ Director, Zoelle, has raised over $1,000 for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights by selling handmade neon Chicago stars. More Info
- Do Good Series at The Long Room – Long Room raised $4500 for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights during their Do Good Around the Clock fundraiser! Thank you to everyone who came by to raise a glass for a good cause. More Info
Volunteer Opportunities
Sometimes the best way to show thanks is to give back–and the best way to give back is through volunteer work. Communities like ours are made stronger, healthier, and kinder as a result of continual volunteer efforts. In Ravenswood, volunteers give their time to feed and clothe people in need; keep our rivers, parks, and bioswales clean; help bring incredible events and programming to the neighborhood; and more.
Volunteer with a local food pantry
- Common Pantry
- Chicago’s longest operating food pantry is looking for volunteers! If you can’t volunteer, consider making a monetary donation. Direct monetary donations are the best way to support the pantry, as it allows them to purchase high priority supplies for their clients. More Info
- The Friendship Center
- The Friendship Center operates a food pantry, serves weekly hot meals, delivers groceries to seniors and other individuals who are homebound and cannot visit the pantry, and provides pet food for those in need. Volunteers are needed in a variety of roles, including in the pantry, in the kitchen, and helping with weekend deliveries. More Info
- Ravenswood Community Services
- Every Tuesday, RCS distributes groceries and hot meals to neighbors. Volunteers are welcome and asked to sign up in advance. Other ways to help include donation of goods, donation of funds, and words of encouragement. More Info
- Nourishing Hope
- Providing the equivalent of 4.5 million meals each year, plus thousands of mental wellness and social services that empower healthy lives, Nourishing Hope strives to create a city where all people have the resources needed for a dignified life. More Info
Volunteer with the Ravenswood Neighbors Association
As a community group run entirely by volunteers, the Ravenswood Neighbors Association could not accomplish everything they do without the help of neighbors. Their volunteers have helped organize and run events, plant native gardens, serve as block captains, and develop new programming like their walking group and young parents meetup. More Info
Volunteer with the Greater Ravenswood Chamber
For our signature annual events, like Ravenswood ArtWalk and Ravenswood On Tap, we rely on the support of our community to help us staff our entry gates, sell tickets, and serve beer. Proceeds from our events fund continued small business support and community programming! Volunteer opportunities for On Tap and ArtWalk open each summer and can be monitored by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.
Northside Community Support Volunteer Opportunities
40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez is coordinating a variety of volunteer support opportunities, including ICE Watch Rapid Response, Court Support, Know Your Rights Business Canvassing, Mutual Aid/Errands (ex. pick up and drop off groceries), Civic Action, and Communication. More Info
Donate or Volunteer: 19th District Mutual Aid Group
19th District Mutual Aid Group is a volunteer-led mutual aid network based in the north side supporting asylum-seekers across Chicago. More Info
