North Shore Exchange Charity Spotlight: The Night Ministry

This past October, North Shore Exchange celebrated reaching an incredible milestone: $1.5 million in cumulative charitable giving. Our giving supports charities addressing the following societal issues and needs: abuse, the elderly, healthcare, disabilities, homelessness, hunger, mental health and social services.

Thanks to the support of our shoppers, consignors and donors, along with our dedicated volunteers and staff, we granted more than $455,000 to deserving Chicagoland charities making a difference in the lives of children and families at or below the poverty level. 

For our first Charity Spotlight, we're highlighting the work of The Night Ministry. The Night Ministry provides housing, health care and human connection to individuals struggling with poverty or homelessness. Our $20,000 grant was given in support of their Street Medicine program, designed to provide immediate, onsite health care to those who have the most trouble accessing it. 

The first program of its kind in Chicago, the Street Medicine program was designed to meet the health care needs of some of the most vulnerable members of the Chicago community: people living in parks, forest preserves, alleys, under viaducts, or alongside roadways across the city. 

Last year, The Night Ministry's Street Medicine program treated 273 conditions that would have gone uncared for if their services were not available, prevented 155 visits to the emergency room, made 4,607* outreach contacts, and provided 522 basic health assessments. They also distributed 3,222 sack lunches and 2,645 hygiene kits to these neighbors with the most need.

We're grateful to The Night Ministry for the work they do every day to reach and treat the neediest of individuals, and to you for helping make this work possible.

Thank you.