North Center Neighbors Association

Are you our next Board Member? Apply today and make an impact right in your neighborhood. You can strengthen our community! Application link: https://lnkd.in/g7tsqik8

Save the date for Saturday, February 1st, at 6:30 pm for Snow Moon, a unique dining experience! NCNA members will be hosting small dinners throughout the neighborhood, creating the perfect opportunity for neighbor-to-neighbor conversations. After the dinner, guests will gather at the final host's home for an exclusive after-party. To learn all the details about this community favorite event, be sure to check out our FAQs on our website. Don’t forget to keep an eye out - tickets will be going on sale soon, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Winter is here to stay for a while, and the CIA committee is ready to assist! Are you in need of help with snow removal this season, or can you lend a hand to your neighbors with shoveling? Inspired by a similar initiative from My Block, My Hood, My City, which supports the South and West sides of Chicago, as well as a program by our friends in Lincoln Square, the North Center Neighbors Association has created a Volunteer Snow Brigade. Older adults and neighbors with disabilities who are seeking help and those who would like to volunteer are encouraged to sign up for our program. This program connects neighbors who are unable to shovel their own walks with volunteers who are willing to provide snow shoveling services. Volunteers are needed for the winter 2024-2025 snow season. All you need to do is put on your warmest Chicago winter gear, grab your shovel and head out to help our neighbors when needed. To sign up for assistance or to volunteer, see our website.

NCNA's CIA committee invites you to its annual planning meeting on Monday, January 13th, at 7:00 p.m. The committee welcomes everyone interested in contributing to the well-being of our neighbors and neighborhood. If you would like to attend, please RSVP on our website and we will provide you with the meeting details and information on how to get involved with this community-focused committee!

Donations for NCNA's Compassion in Action (CIA) committee's December First Wednesday Food Drive (FWFD) will be accepted from Wednesday, January 1st through Wednesday, January 8th. The FWFD supports Common Pantry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food, essential items, and social services to those in need each month. As a community, we can come together and support those in need. In November, the CIA committee, along with the generous contributions from our friends and neighbors, donated over 334 pounds of food and personal care items to the pantry. The number of guests served by Common Pantry is increasing each month, and they are truly grateful for this kindness, as it provides essential assistance to their guests right away. ?? What to donate? January Item of the Month is Brown Rice! Brown rice contains more dietary fiber than white rice, helping you to feel fuller for longer! A donation of $35 can provide 20 bags of brown rice for Common Pantry guests. Other items needed: sugar, flour, cooking oil, ground coffee, cereal (whole grain, less sugar varieties), canned fruit, jar spaghetti sauce (low sodium) and dry pasta, whole grain crackers, soup, rice, easy prep meals (i.e., Hamburger Helper (low sodium or whole grain varieties, if possible), peanut butter, jelly/jam, cleaning supplies and laundry detergent, and sandwich-size zip-lock bags. Personal care items are in high demand: donations of full-size bottles of shampoo, shaving cream, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, diapers (baby and adult sizes), and toilet paper are always appreciated. See drop-off porch locations on our website To make a monetary donation or to learn more about Common Pantry and the incredible work they do supporting our community, please visit their website.

Take the Holly Jolly survey! We sincerely thank all our members, friends, and neighbors who attended the 4th Annual HJHM on December 14th and 15th! It was a wonderful weekend for our community! As you know, this year NCNA hosted HJHM for the first time over two days, and we would love to hear your feedback. Your opinion matters, so please let us know your thoughts! The survey will only take about two minutes to complete and will help us plan for next year. As a thank you for participating, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Target gift card! See our webiste for link to the survey.

Join the NCNA Board of Directors! The mission of North Center Neighborhood Association (NCNA) is to strengthen and empower our community by creating opportunities to help others, hosting events that bring neighbors together, and supporting causes that preserve and improve our environment. Our success in achieving these goals relies heavily on the involvement of the North Center community. If you live within the North Center boundaries and are a member of NCNA, we invite you to consider serving on our board. Board members serve three-year terms and are responsible for developing and implementing projects that align with NCNA's mission. The only requirement is your commitment to our community. To apply for an open board position, please complete our New Board Member Interest Form on our website by Monday, February 3rd. If you would like to discuss board membership further, feel free to email or call 872- 246-1551. New board members will be introduced to the NCNA members at our Annual Meeting on Monday, March 3rd.

Each year, our community partner, Common Pantry, teams up with local Jewel-Osco stores to provide turkey and ham dinners for their guests during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. The quantity of turkeys and hams distributed relies on the donations collected from customers, like you, at checkout. With a notable increase in individuals and families needing monthly groceries, Common Pantry anticipates a higher demand for holiday dinners this year. When you check out at Jewel, please consider making an extra donation to help those in need. TIA! ??

SAVE THE DATE for Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 30th! Check out The Chamber of Commerce for event details along with activities taking place throughout the neighborhood! @northcenter

A message from the 19th Police District Council: NAMI, Thresholds, and Trilogy all have been very successful with their crisis response teams and we want to keep highlighting their work. #NCNA #NorthCenter #chicago #neighbors #nonprofit #community #safety