Reduce-Reuse-Regift
In the year 2002 I was living in a very small studio apartment in Chicago. I found myself surrounded by lots of new items that I wasn’t putting to good use. I was storing things in my closets and storage locker where they were taking up space, creating clutter and collecting dust. This made me feel guilty and I thought to myself, “there has to be a better way.”
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​I knew there could be some senior citizens who might really need a fleece blanket to help keep warm during Chicago’s frigid winters or use a faux floral arrangement as a simple gesture that they are loved.
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I reached out to the dry cleaners in my building and asked if they would serve as a drop-off location and received a resounding “Yes!” I then contacted one of the non-profits I had worked with during my career as a geriatric social worker and asked if they would be the recipients of the gifts and received another exciting “Yes!” And then, Leave it for Love was created.
To-date we have collected thousands of items which have been re-gifted among low-income oftentimes lonely older adults throughout the Chicagoland area.
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​Suggested donations include trinkets, tchotchkes, hostess gifts, corporate gifts, personal care items, warm weather gear, holiday décor and so on. We welcome any new or unused items. Sample gift ideas can be found on our homepage. Due to space limitations, we cannot accept used clothing or books.
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Leave it for Love captures the spirit of the holiday season and keeps it going all year long. Our unique and innovative program is easy on the pocketbook, good for the environment and great for the human spirit! We hope you will join with us as we “regift for good.”
Leave it for Love is dedicated to my wonderful parents, Marcia (1941-2024) and Roger. They have both lived a life of service and instilled in me at a young age that "we were given two hands, one to help ourselves and the other to help others."
