LET IT BE US ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE AND GINGERBREAD FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE AWAITING ADOPTION ACROSS ILLINOIS

LET IT BE US ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE AND GINGERBREAD FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE AWAITING ADOPTION ACROSS ILLINOIS

Community Invited to Donate Toys and Attend a Festive Gingerbread Decorating Fundraiser, with All Proceeds Supporting Children and Teens in Illinois Foster Care Awaiting Permanent, Loving Families.

CHICAGO – Let It Be Us, a licensed child welfare agency and trusted leader in adoption and foster care innovation, will host two holiday initiatives to benefit children in foster care and those awaiting across Illinois. Already a statewide leader in adoption reform, Let It Be Us continues to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and support systems surrounding the adoption process. As part of its mission, the organization utilizes and manages the Illinois Adoption Listing Service and The Heart Gallery of Illinois, providing caseworkers and prospective families with an interactive, user-friendly platform highlighting children and teens awaiting permanent, loving families. Through this system, families can view profiles, learn about each child’s unique story and interests, and take the first step toward adoption.

The annual Toy Drive for Children in Foster Care including Those Awaiting Adoption, will take place on December 11 and 12, 12:00 – 4:00 pm at Let It Be Us headquarters, 145 West Main Street in Barrington. The organization will collect new, unwrapped toys for children in foster care throughout Northern Illinois, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) office in Waukegan, CASA of Lake County, and several local group homes. Donations of wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape are also appreciated. Monetary donations are accepted, and Let It Be Us will purchase gifts on behalf of donors through its Toy Drive Donation Page. A full list of requested toys can be found on the Toy Drive Event Page.

On December 4, Let It Be Us will also host Candy Cottage for a Cause: Gingerbread Holiday Fundraiser for Foster Care and Adoption at Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook. The adults-only event will feature gingerbread house decorating led by a professional pastry artist, seasonal refreshments, and a festive evening supporting Let It Be Us programs that help children and teens in foster care find permanent, loving homes. Tickets can be purchased at www.letitbeus.org.

Let It Be Us works in partnership with DCFS to connect licensed foster parents with children who are legally available for adoption, focusing on those with specialized needs, sibling groups, and children who have spent extended time in care. Through statewide programs such as the Adoption Listing Service and The Heart Gallery of Illinois, the organization helps families navigate the adoption process and provides free training, webinars, and guidance to support successful placements.

“Our mission has always been to create innovative solutions that improve the futures of waiting children,” said Dr. Susan McConnell, Executive Director of Let It Be Us. “Events like the Toy Drive and Candy Cottage for a Cause not only raise awareness but also directly support our work to ensure every child in Illinois foster care has the opportunity to grow up in a loving, permanent home.” Serving Illinois for more than a decade, Let It Be Us continues to lead adoption and foster care innovation statewide. For more information, to donate, or to get involved, visit www.letitbeus.org or call (847) 764-5428.

Let It Be Us is a nonprofit organization and Illinois licensed child welfare agency dedicated to recruitment, matching and placement within foster care and adoption across the State of Illinois. Through innovative programming and strategic partnerships, Let It Be Us aims to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system. Learn more at www.letitbeus.org.


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