In The News

Jennifer Molski has been doing her part for 23 years to prove that regifting—that famously frowned-upon practice—can really be an act of kindness. Her Leave It for Love nonprofit has collected faux floral arrangements, stuffed animals, makeup and more than 10,000 other gifts and distributed them to isolated, often overlooked seniors. “I’ll never forget one woman who chose some lipstick,” recalls Molski, 55. “She told me she hadn’t felt so beautiful in years.” —Johnny Dodd

Have a story that makes you smile?
Send suggestions to storiestomakeyousmile@people.com

Jennifer Molski, a resident of the suburb of Flossmoor (Illinois) has started a program to help seniors who may be feeling isolated by collecting and re-gifting holiday-type presents. X (formerly Twitter)+1
She calls the initiative something like a “gift recycling” effort: people in her community donate new or gently used items they received (but didn’t want or need) and she distributes them to older adults who might appreciate some extra cheer and a sense of connection.

A February Homewood-Flossmoor community collection of unwanted gift items for the Leave It for Love project will help brighten a senior citizen’s day, said founder Jennifer Molski of Flossmoor.

Suggested items include hostess gifts, warm weather gear, trinkets, household décor, makeup and perfume. Books and clothing are not being accepted. The regifting program is designed to offer unused items to those “who think they are all alone in this world,” she said.

Gifts will be collected at Loulou Belle at 2049 Ridge Road in Homewood and Coldwell Banker at 1056 Sterling Drive in Flossmoor. Gifts are distributed throughout the year by Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, an agency providing social services to older adults in the Chicagoland area.

Such a nice surprise to receive a "High Five" from NBC Chicago Channel 5 for our efforts. Don't blink or you'll miss this quick segment! ❤️

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Did you receive a holiday gift or two that you just won’t be able to put to good use? Maybe a box of chocolates you’ll never eat or a too-small Christmas sweater without a gift receipt?

All are welcome to re-gift these and other unwanted presents and help share a bit of joy with older adults, thanks to a local nonprofit.

In Flossmoor, Illinois, one woman’s small idea about re-gifting has turned into something far greater — a way to brighten the lives of older adults who too often feel forgotten after the holidays. Jennifer Molski, a local resident and longtime volunteer, calls it her mission to spread cheer “one gift at a time.”

It all began simply. After yet another holiday season of exchanging presents, Molski noticed that many people had closets full of unused or duplicate gifts — items that were perfectly nice, but destined to collect dust. “I thought, why not put those things to better use?” she recalled. “Someone else could get real joy from something that might otherwise just sit on a shelf.”

Molski started asking friends and neighbors if they would consider donating new or gently used gifts — candles, lotions, scarves, stationery, or small home goods — anything that might make someone smile. To her surprise, the response was immediate. Within weeks, her dining room table was buried beneath a mountain of donated treasures.

PARK FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -Sometimes, people find themselves with gifts they may not have wanted — from Christmas or other holidays.

One woman from south suburban Flossmoor has found a way to regift such items to people who might need a little pick-me-up. She passed out the gifts to seniors at Victory Centre in Park Forest on Tuesday.

Jennifer Molski runs a unique gift recycling program called "Leave it for Love." When Molski got married, she presented gifts to her friends.

Years later, one of those friends regifted her gift. But Molski wasn't upset.

Instead, she was tickled, because she founded an organization that harnessed the concept of regifting to brighten the holiday season for older people who can sometimes feel left out, forgotten, and lonely.

id you receive a holiday gift or two that you just won’t be able to put to good use? Maybe a box of chocolates you’ll never eat or a too-small Christmas sweater without a gift receipt? All are welcome to re-gift these and other unwanted presents and help share a bit of joy with older adults. 

All of us, at some point, have received gifts that we don't eхactly want or need - especially around the holidays. Some may make an exchange, but most often the gift never gets used. Next time that happens, remember Leave it For Love.