Share Our Spare

Share Our Spare Share Our Spare has a mission is to ensure every child in Chicago has the essentials they need to thrive in the first five years of life.
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We collect your "extras" and turn them into the EXTRAordinary for families in need.

It’s time for another edition of Myths and Misconceptions Monday! 📚This week, we’re tackling a common concern about enro...
10/12/2026

It’s time for another edition of Myths and Misconceptions Monday! 📚

This week, we’re tackling a common concern about enrolling in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: “Do I have to share a lot of personal information to sign up?”

We understand why families may have questions about sharing sensitive information. The good news? You only need to provide five basic pieces of information to enroll. We want getting free books into the homes of Chicago’s youngest readers to be as easy and unintrusive as possible.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free, high-quality, developmentally appropriate books to children from birth to age five. Families in 23 ZIP codes across Chicago’s South and West sides are currently eligible, and we’re actively working to expand the program citywide.

📚 Ready to enroll? Visit shareourspare.org/freebooks.

Have questions or want to learn more? Email [email protected].

10/08/2026

Have diapers your little ones have outgrown? We’d love to put them to good use!

National Diaper Need Awareness Week may be over, but collecting diaper donations is a year-round endeavor for us! We accept both packaged and loose diapers, so don’t let those extra diapers take up space at home.

📦 Have diapers to donate?
🚚 Need a pickup?
💻 Check out our donation drop-off and pickup schedules at www.shareourspare.org.

Your extra diapers can make a big difference for a Chicago family!

Each month the essentials we provide to our partners help support the health and development of ~35,000 Chicago area chi...
10/07/2026

Each month the essentials we provide to our partners help support the health and development of ~35,000 Chicago area children ages 0-5. As a result, we help lay the foundation for a resilient and equitable community.

Want to get involved? Check out links in our bio for volunteering and other opportunities to engage!

⭐ September Volunteer of the Month: Darrell Scott! ⭐We’re so excited to celebrate Darrell, a Junior from Chicago’s Aust...
10/02/2026

⭐ September Volunteer of the Month: Darrell Scott! ⭐

We’re so excited to celebrate Darrell, a Junior from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, who is back with us for a second year through his school’s volunteer work placement program! 💚

Why Share Our Spare again? Darrell says he loves helping people and finds the vibe at the Sharehouse to be “very chill.” We’ll take it! 😎

A few things to know about Darrell:
📦 Favorite activity: packing diaper orders (he likes staying on the move!)
📋 Least favorite: counting inventory (fair enough)
📚 Favorite subject: reading and writing
🧀 Favorite food: mac and cheese
🎮 Off the clock: Madden 26, NBA 2K26, time outdoors, hanging with friends and his dog Cody, and styling outfits
👟 If Share Our Spare were a style? A Nike Tech outfit, according to Darrell!

Darrell is the middle of three kids, a Chicago native, and a Ta**us. After high school, he’s interested in barber school or a school for construction, and we can’t wait to see where he goes.

Thank you, Darrell, for your dedication, compassion, and outstanding service to the children and families we serve. Your impact makes a difference! 🙌

09/30/2026

Out with the old and in with the new! Now that it's officially autumn, we've begun switching out our summer inventory for winter gear. Despite what the weather forecast says, we plan for the worst and ensure our families are prepared for a harsh winter because we know here in Chicago that mother nature doesn't play nice! So, if you have spare coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, or scarfs, bring them on down to the Sharehouse where every donation directly impacts a family in need.

It's time for another edition of Myths and Misconceptions Monday! This week, we're tackling donations. Many people we en...
09/28/2026

It's time for another edition of Myths and Misconceptions Monday! This week, we're tackling donations. Many people we encounter think that just because they don't have any young children in their life, there's no way for them to donate physical items. But there are plenty of ways to help!

We accept adult-sized incontinence and period products, which are so important for postpartum comfort and recovery. We also accept plenty of brand new items that people purchase and donate, including hygiene items like toothpaste, soap, diaper rash cream, and more! Of course, brand new diapers (in addition to open packs) are always a need.

Contact us at [email protected] or (773) 657-3117 with any questions about donations!

📣 READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS? 💚If you’re 14–20 years old, we want YOU...
09/25/2026

📣 READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS? 💚

If you’re 14–20 years old, we want YOU at the table! Join us for the first-ever Share Our Spare Youth Advisory Board Kick-Off Meeting! 🎉

This inaugural meeting is for students and young leaders who want to help shape the future of youth engagement at Share Our Spare. Whether you’re passionate about volunteering, organizing events, advocating for children, or bringing new ideas to life, there’s a place for you here.
🌟 WHAT IS THE YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD?
This is more than a volunteer opportunity—it’s a chance to build leadership skills, strengthen your résumé, meet like-minded peers, network with community leaders, and create meaningful change for children and families throughout Chicagoland.

Board members will:
💚 Attend one meeting each month for a 12-month commitment
💚 Organize at least one donation drive at their school or in their community
💚 Lead one volunteer group from their school, club, team, or community each year
💚 Provide feedback on how we can make Share Our Spare more welcoming and engaging for youth
💚 Network with Share Our Spare staff and community partners
💚 Help plan and support special events like Teen/Youth Open House, Trunk R Treat, Pancakes & Pajamas, and our Annual Gala
💚 Have opportunities to support programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and youth programming during spring and summer breaks
🚀 WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE KICK-OFF
At our first meeting, we’ll:
✨ Learn about Share Our Spare, our mission, and our impact
✨ Get to know one another through icebreakers and team-building activities
✨ Explore the purpose and vision of the Youth Advisory Board
✨ Review expectations, commitments, and opportunities
✨ Begin creating our shared mission, values, and “rules of the road”
✨ Explore leadership opportunities and committee roles

🎯 LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Members can take ownership of projects through roles such as:
📝 Meeting Notes Chair
📦 Community Drives Chair
🙋 Volunteer Engagement Chair
🎉 Special Events Chair
☀️ Spring & Summer Camp Chair
🏭 Warehouse Assessment Chair
And that’s just the beginning! Additional leadership opportunities may be created based on your interests and ideas.
Ready to help shape the future of youth leadership at Share Our Spare? 🌟

👉 Register for the Youth Advisory Board Kick-Off Meeting today: https://volunteer.shareourspare.org/timeslots/ZixsCC8mZP

Your voice. Your ideas. Your leadership. Your community. 💚

Last Thursday, we hosted our 15th Year Anniversary Shared Future Gala at the Wellsley. It was a huge success, raising ov...
09/24/2026

Last Thursday, we hosted our 15th Year Anniversary Shared Future Gala at the Wellsley. It was a huge success, raising over $240,000 to support the next year of our mission.

A special thank you to our sponsors, honorees, host committee, and all of our guests who showed up and showed out! We ate, danced, and spent time with the incredible Share Our Spare community. At the center of it all, we celebrated the important work that continues to be done to give every child the essentials needed for a strong start. Thank you to all who have supported this work, whether you've been here with us for 15 years or 15 days.

We'll see you next year!

Just in time for the first couple 50 degree days of the season, our winter coats are out in the shop and ready for partn...
09/23/2026

Just in time for the first couple 50 degree days of the season, our winter coats are out in the shop and ready for partners to grab for their families! 🧥❄️

We’ve already distributed dozens of winter coats to our partners in the past two weeks, but we are always looking for more. Drop off coats at the Sharehouse Mondays and Wednesdays, and contact [email protected] if you’d like to host a drive!

Diaper need is about more than diapers—it’s about giving parents the support they need to move forward. 💚Last week, we r...
09/22/2026

Diaper need is about more than diapers—it’s about giving parents the support they need to move forward. 💚

Last week, we recognized National Diaper Need Awareness Week and the critical role diapers and other essentials play in helping families thrive.

Our partners at YWCA’s Young Parents Program shared how access to diapers, wipes, and clothing helped one parent transition into a new job and focus on providing for her family.

As they shared, “Access to diapers, wipes, and clothing helped bridge a critical gap”—giving this parent one less thing to worry about as she took an important step toward employment and stability.

We’re proud to partner with organizations like YWCA’s Young Parents Program to connect families with the essentials they need to thrive. 💚

Address

3800 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL
60641

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+17736573117

Website

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