The very heartbeat of a non-profit organization is its volunteers. While some charitable organizations offer food delivery and nourishment for their communities, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago volunteers provide nourishment to hearts and souls.

Why You Are Needed

Many people think kosher foods are simply blessed by a rabbi, but there is much more involved in kosher food production. You can see why their prices prohibit many of our Chicago-area neighbors from traditional worship:

…Most reliable kosher agencies require full-time supervision for Passover production. And it’s not just for the finished product, but for each of its ingredients. Take, for example, that expensive bottle of ketchup. …Not only does the ketchup have to be made under full-time supervision for Passover, but so do the spices, vinegar, and oils that flavor it. …In just about all the cases, companies must clean production equipment thoroughly to get rid of any non-kosher-for-Passover ingredients.Benyamin Cohen

How We Benefit When You Volunteer

  • Our recipients say your smiling face and compassionate attitude lift their spirits.
  • When you tell others about volunteering, you act as a public relations asset!
  • You allow us to focus on our daily tasks when you focus on “the real work;” packaging and food delivery.
  • You keep us informed about people in the Jewish community who need our help.
  • You often bring new ideas and better ways of doing what we have done over 100 years.
  • Your energy invigorates us and inspires us to continue doing what we do.
  • Your feedback and suggestions help us help others.

This year our warehouse is located at  7080 N McCormick, in Lincolnwood.  We will be delivering enough food to feed over 15,000 people.  Please join us on March 25th!

If you’re looking for Purim hats or costume ideas, you can’t go wrong with Pinterest. And if you’re planning a party, be sure to include Purim Song by the Maccabeats. Festivity, hats and costumes, gift baskets, the Megillah, and hamantaschen are what we think about when it’s time to celebrate Purim.

Haman and the Three-Cornered Hat

As if we needed an excuse to eat cookies? The story goes that Haman the Agagite wore a 3-cornered hat. So we celebrate his demise by eating his hat.

Research by renowned scholars into the tradition of hamantaschen for Purim, which goes back to the Middle Ages and for which the exact translation is “Haman’s pockets,” has never been explained. But the Swedes “have a suspiciously similar cookie, called Napoleon’s Hats or ‘Napoleonhattar,’ which are traditionally filled with almonds. That actually makes a certain degree of sense: Tri-cornered hats were popular in Napoleon’s time,” says Jewcy.

It’s a Mitzvah to Wear a Funny Hat

Author Lawrence Cohen says for his rabbi, wearing a funny hat to the reading of the Megillah is “…the supreme mitzvah. Visiting the sick, accompanying the dead, attending the bride, don’t even come close.” In fact, rabbis are so divided on the why-do-we-wear-the-hat topic that at one historical point they declared Teyku (“Let the decision be made by Moshiach when he comes.”).

Perhaps the ‘Hats’ are ‘Crowns’

Another theory reigns: The hats are supposed to represent the crown of King Ahasuerus, who decided to kill Haman rather than the Jews. His decision may have been self-serving: He wanted to keep his wife Esther around, but we remain happy he chose that option.

Celebrate Purim

If you have the real reason we wear funny hats to celebrate Purim, let us know! Meanwhile, we wish you and your family and friends Chag Purim Sameach! Wear a funny hat Thursday, March 1, 2018.  Another  Mitzvah for Purim is Matanot L’evyonim, which translates to  donations to the poor or charity.  You can donate to Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago by clicking here.

It’s a mitzvah.

You are following those who cared for you, taught you, loved you . . . The ones who left a legacy for you. Now, it’s your turn. Leaving a legacy is important! Think about the people who ensured a legacy for us:

  • Grandparents
  • Neighbors
  • Men and women who pursued better lives for us and future generations; politicians, scientists, explorers
  • Our founding fathers
  • Parents
  • Teachers, coaches

These are the people who have shaped the way you live today, and many of them may have left you both memories and legacies you won’t soon forget. Living a good life means taking what you have and making it what you want it to be.

Why Leaving a Legacy for the Future is Important

All of us are leaving legacies to those who follow; most of us have strived to live moral, healthy lives without harming others – and when possible, helped others. Here’s why we should remember that our legacies are important:

Leaving a legacy is an act of responsibility. Good men and women don’t simply leave behind good or bad memories (legacies) for others. They create their legacies by building a life founded upon caring enough about others to leave them a meaningful and positive legacy.

We are stewards of this world; we should leave it better than we found it.

We can curb our selfishness by thinking about the legacies we leave. Leaving money so that a hospital wing or art gallery bears your name is one thing. But when you donate that money in the true spirit of helping others, you’re helping yourself, too. Every day lived well, with a sense of purpose and a goal to help others increases your happiness and wellness.

Target Date: June 30, 2018

As you sit near your fireplace or snuggle on the couch with your favorite afghan and a cup of warm tea, you feel safe and protected against the winter winds, hunger, and fear of famine. But did you know Jewish families live in poverty, close to your home? With your help, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago has established a tradition of charity to our people in need for over 100 years. And now, if we raise enough new donations before June 30, 2018, Maot Chitim will receive an additional $10,000 through an incentive grant! When you join the Maot Chitim Legacy Society, your gift will sustain Chicago-area Jewish families in need for many years. Your bequest can be included in:

  • Cash or assets
  • Charitable gift annuity
  • Charitable remainder trust
  • IRA or pension funds
  • Life insurance
  • Your will

Call 847.674.3224 or contact Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago today to help us meet the requirements of this incentive grant.

There are certain things we can only do together. -Barack Obama

“Charity begins at home.”

“Give where you live.”

There are so many global situations that hurt our hearts with their stark need for food, medical care, clean water…and the list is never-ending. For many, this is a time of year for  giving and personal reflection.  For many of us, making a difference – a positive impact – that will live beyond our years here is what we strive to do.

Helping Locally Can Change the World

The smallest local gesture or donation can have far-reaching consequences! You never go how far hope will travel. Here are three additional reasons to give to Chicago-area charitable organizations:

  1. Your monetary or volunteer donation might be the impetus someone needs to get a job, go back to school, or strive for a better way of life. Just knowing that other people care can remind someone they are worthy and valuable, and they have something to give, too.
  2. You can give yourself a fresh start! When you organize your own house-cleaning for charity, your clean closets, garage, basement, or attic may motivate you to create that sewing room you’ve wanted. Monetary donations work the same way. Even if you only give a little, you may want to re-organize your finances so you can make what most organizations really need – regular, ongoing support upon which they can plan their annual budgets.
  3. Get a jump on tax-savings. There are financial advantages to donating to a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. Keep receipts for your donations to get the deductions you deserve. That’s a win-win for everyone: You give, you receive!

Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago

We need financial support, but we also need people to pack food items and deliver them to Chicago-area people in need to help them celebrate the holidays.  The date for Passover Delivery is March 25th.  You CAN help! Contact us or call 847-674-3224 to give your legacy of dignity for others.

The concept of volunteering is difficult to explain to a small child, but they appreciate that helping others is a good thing. By the age of 4, most children understand, “I need help with dusting furniture,” and many can say, “I need a volunteer…”

Tips to Involve Children in Volunteering

Our friends at PBSparents offer the following tips to help you teach your child the value of volunteering:

  • First, be a role model.
    Children copy their parents; when they see you helping others, they will want to do it as well. Two-thirds of children who volunteer become active volunteers as adults.
  • Choose an activity that offers immediate results.
    Children get the most out of volunteering when they can see positive results. A littered park that is clean as the result of their efforts is a good example.
  • Find a fun, engaging volunteer activity.
    Remember to choose volunteering for children that is age-appropriate and more like fun than work. Most children love animals, so walking dogs or taking a dog to a nursing home to visit patients might be a good idea. One pre-k teacher says the formula is 2x their age + one. That means 8-year-olds’ activity focus is solid for about 20 minutes; change their tasks as often as necessary.
  • Make volunteering as a family a regular activity.
    Annual or more frequent volunteering as a family makes a huge impact on youngsters.
  • Pick a volunteer effort they choose and include it in the family calendar.
    Children will be more excited if they can “see” their activity is just as important as the rest of the family’s.
  • Volunteering can be simple.
    Choosing a toy from their toybox or shopping for a toy to donate is easy, especially when children physically place it among other donations.

Charity Begins at Home (Chicago)

We need volunteers to package and deliver food to those who are unable to afford sometimes-expensive foods need to worship in a traditional, Jewish manner at home. Our Passover Delivery Day is March 25th, 2018.  It’s a wonderful experience for the entire family.  Contact Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago to learn more.

Charitable organizations appreciate non-monetary donations; in fact, some of them are more clothing- or home accessory-based than cash-based. Unfortunately, sometimes people use these charities as a dumping ground for items that are too worn or damaged to be donated. “People will donate all kinds of garbage to thrift stores thinking that because people are poor, they’ll take anything,” observed one Quora blogger.

How to Maximize Your Donation

Here are some tips to keep in mind when donating items to thrift stores or charities:

  • Consider selling the items and donating the proceeds to charity. It’s a fun way to fundraise!
  • If you think it’s trash, it probably is. Throw away stained and excessively worn or threadbare items. If it needs minor repairs, consider making the repairs yourself. If it’s beyond repair, toss it.
  • Make a list. Even if you usually file “short form” taxes, you don’t know what the rest of the year will bring. Therefore, it’s a good idea to itemize your donations along with approximate value. Be realistic. Very few donated items are worth more than a dollar or two, except for large furniture or technology devices. Goodwill offers a Donation Valuation Guide, and most charities will provide receipts.
  • Organize by grouping similar items together. Girls’ clothing goes in one group, dishes in another, books in another. Separating your donated items saves volunteers hours of work.
  • Wash dirty clothes…seriously. Don’t donate dirty items at all, including clothing.
  • Wrap fragile items, including ceramics, china, and dishes. All breakables should be secured, as broken items are of no value and can present cut hazards and injuries to volunteers.

Making a Difference Forever

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” -Shannon L. Alder

Every charitable organization requires cash donations and volunteers to complete their mission. Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago needs YOU. If you are not financially able to donate money to our efforts, consider leaving a legacy. Your caregiving and support will live forever, touching lives every generation, and your blessings will be remembered. Call 847-674-3224 because we need your support . . . and your prayers!

According to Forbes, economically, 2018 is going to be an okay year for the U.S. For most household budgets, charitable donations fall under the category of “disposable income,” and that indicator isn’t quite as strong. Income is rising, but the growth rate of disposable income has been slow.

Most how-to-donate advice says to stop donating sporadic, small amounts and focus on one or two charities, building your donation into your budget so they can build their budget based on your donation. It makes sense! But make no mistake – there are no charities that will turn away donations of any size, and we’re not too proud to beg, either!

How to Help in 2018

Even if you’ve never made regular donations to a charitable organization, you can build financial support into your budget for 2018. Here’s how:

  1. Pick Your Cause

“The more you can align your actions with your beliefs, the happier you will start to become in every area of your life.”  –Kate Dillman 

Focus on your values and explore your passions. If easing hunger or preventing animal cruelty is something you would like to support, go that direction and research local, state, national, or international organizations.

  1. Set Up a Bank Account

Create a savings account called “Donations,” and begin stashing money in it every paycheck. No matter how tight you are that particular pay period or month, there’s always something; buying a grocery store pizza vs. home delivery saves you $10, for example. Ten dollars may not seem like much, but it adds up.

  1. What Can You Sacrifice?

“Your sacrifice doesn’t have to be big.” –Jennifer Bernstein

Your venti mocha latte is almost $5/day or $150/month. Maybe you can make an adjustment in your budget and sacrifice one or two items often enough to make a difference to those who are needy.

  1. Automated Deductions, Donations

If you’re like most people, it’s easier to save money when it is paycheck-deducted. Try to set up auto-deductions into your “Donations” savings account. Once you’ve built up a respectable amount, decide how much you want to donate, how often, and set it up on autopay. Your charity will jump for joy because your monthly or quarterly donation is something they can depend on! They can better balance their own budget, thanks to you.

  1. Matching Gifts

If your company does not have a matching gifts program, make a case for your charity and their help! Even “We’ll think about it,” is better than nothing and may lead to…something.

Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago

If charity begins at home, you have Chicago-area neighbors who will need food and support for the upcoming Passover Holiday.  a You can help us help them. Contact us to learn more.