Supporting our community during the holidays reaps benefits for everyone. Here are some opportunities to donate, serve and give back during the month ahead.
Springfield area Micropantries
Food scarcity is a major issue all of the time, but especially during the holidays, and particularly in 2025. Many of our readers are already aware of micropantries, and have likely contributed to a micropantry at some point, but did you know that there is a group of local citizens who coordinate the stocking and maintenance of Springfield’s more than 30 micropantries?
If you are interested in stocking pantries on a more regular basis, hosting a non-perishable food collection through your business or organization or helping to clean, repair or maintain a pantry, you can easily reach out to an individual for more information on which pantries need adopted. If you prefer to make a monetary donation so that coordinators can purchase care items and food for families in need, you may do so through the Springfield Micropantry Food Fund.
Holiday cards for local seniors
Looking for an inexpensive way to make an impact on seniors this holiday season? Grab a stack of cards and spread some holiday cheer through the gift of words. Holiday cards are a fun surprise that share goodwill during the season, and the whole family can get in on the fun from home. Once you have written your cards, drop them off at the United Way of Central Illinois office (1999 Wabash, Suite 107, Springfield) by noon on Dec. 10. United Way community partners will personalize envelopes so that local seniors have their names on cards before delivery.
Ronald McDonald Children’s House of Central Illinois
The Springfield Ronald McDonald Children’s House provides housing and respite to families whose children are receiving medical treatment at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. There are several volunteer opportunities available, including helping with cleaning services, facilities services or donating household supplies or meals for families staying at the house.
While these volunteer opportunities are better suited for adults, there is something younger children can do. If your child wants to give back to hospitalized children at the holidays, why not collect aluminum pop tabs to donate? The RMCH accepts tabs and sells them for profit, and those donations add up. Whether it’s seltzer or something more adult, your family and friend gatherings will probably involve plenty of aluminum cans, so encourage your kids to collect tabs for RMCH. Tabs can be dropped off at 610 N. Seventh St., in Springfield.
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Holiday Store
The Holiday Store is a wonderful shopping experience that teaches children about the joy of giving to others. With more than 2,000 children coming to shop each season, the store has become something many families look forward to as an annual tradition. Children shop with their own “elf” while their loved ones relax in the waiting area. The store is located at White Oaks Mall this year and is open on weekends from now until Dec. 20. Have teenagers who no longer need help shopping for family members? Anyone age 14 or older may volunteer for an elf shift. What a wonderful way for parents of teens (or adults) to spend time together and help others this holiday season.
The Be Lovely Boutique
Wooden It Be Lovely supports women healing from lives of poverty, addiction and abuse by providing transitional employment, mentoring, recovery tools, education, community networking and a safe community. Women are employed to refurbish and sell wooden furniture which is sold, along with other handmade goods, at the Be Lovely Boutique, 801 South Grand Ave. W. Consider shopping at the Be Lovely Boutique as you fill out your holiday lists, and give back to women survivors in our community. You can also browse and make purchases online, and all proceeds from sales support the women in the program.
Toys for Tots Toy Drive
The Leland Grove Police Department will be hosting its 17th annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. Stop by 2000 Chatham Road to drop off new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to less fortunate children in our community.
Toy drive for kids in foster care
Camelot Care provides services for foster youth in our community, including gifts for the holidays. You and your family can adopt a Christmas list for a child in foster care. Donors are asked to use a budget of $50-$75 per child. This is a wonderful way to involve your kids in choosing gifts for other kids in our community. Gifts should be dropped off at 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 220, on or before Dec. 12.
Journey Like June Toy Drive
The Journey Like June Foundation supports area kids affected by childhood cancer. From now until Dec. 6, you can drop off new toys in the donation boxes at several locations throughout Springfield. All toys benefit the HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital Santa’s Workshop and pediatrics unit.
You may also drop off gifts at the Illinois Local Holiday Market taking place at the fairgrounds on Nov. 29. In a special collaboration, Little Lincoln’s Toy Shop, 3001 W. White Oaks Dr., will be offering a 20% discount to shoppers who purchase items at the Holiday Market and donate to the Journey Like June Toy Drive that day.
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer living in Springfield.
This article appears in November 27-December 3, 2025.
I’m hopeful that Springfield will come through and support these efforts on behalf of its citizens. There should have been some contact information provided for interested individuals in the micropantry article.