How Can I CHIP IN?

We just had our Prom Dress Collection and Giveaway!  IT WAS OPEN TO ALL STUDENT FROM ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT - on March 12, from 9am-4pm, at the Kane Vax Hub (formerly Sam's Club).  It was a great success, with over 200 students shopping and over 500 dresses given away.  And another 300 were given to area schools for students in need.  

We continue helping families during COVID.

Please like and follow our Facebook page to see current needs.

The greatest needs are donations for rent and utilities and gift cards for food, gas, and clothing. Examples for gift cards include Aldi, Target, Walmart, Goodwill, Plato's Closet, and any gas card.

Make a donation today to support our families!

Checks are payable to: The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence. Write "CHIP IN Batavia" in memo.

Checks can be dropped off at or mailed to:

Batavia Public School District Office

335 W. Wilson Street

Batavia, IL  60510 

Gift Cards

In order to best support our families, see below for recommendations:

• Groceries/Food: Aldi, Target, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, Walgreens
• Clothing: Kohl's, Goodwill, Plato's Closet, any shoe store, Walmart
• Transportation: Gas cards, UBER

Donate Items

See the list below or email chipinbatavia@gmail.com for the most current needs. 

• Individually wrapped snacks and water bottles
• Electronics
  • Laptops
  • iPads
  • Chromebooks
• Musical Instruments
• Seasonal Donations
  • Valentine's cards are collected in January for elementary school students
  • Prom dresses, Homecoming dresses, and special event dresses are collected in February and March
  • Halloween costumes are accepted by any elementary school in September and October
  • Winter snowpants, gloves, hats, scarves, boots, and coats are accepted by any school or the Batavia Interfaith Clothes Closet (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am-11:30am at 100 Flinn Street in Batavia). 
• Personal Care Items: [Email Chipinbatavia@gmail.com first for more information] 
  • ​Deodorant
  • Chapstick
  • Small Kleenex
  • Contact lens solution
  • Baby/hand wipes
  • Nail clippers and nail files
  • Vaseline
  • Hair brushes
  • Hair ties
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner, etc.
• School Supplies
  • Calculators
  • Backpacks
  • Folders with pockets
  • Pens
  • Sharpies
  • Rulers
  • Erasers
  • Post-it notes
  • Binders
  • Markers, etc.
• ​The Batavia Bicycle Commission's Bike for Batavia accepts gently used bicycles and locks. These are cleaned and fitted for our community members. Only new helmets are accepted. Contact bikesforbatavia@gmail.com with questions.

Batavia Apartment General Store

Residents of the Batavia Apartments visit the General Store one time per month. They are awarded points based on their apartment/family size and can use those points to trade in for items that are not covered by SNAP. To empower the residents further, if they participate in other programs or volunteer for the Resident Service Coordinator, they can earn extra points for the program.

Items most needed:

• Kleenex
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper towels
• Soap
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo

Donations may be dropped off at Batavia Apartments. Tax-deduction forms can be provided available upon request.  

Contact Lynn Queen with any questions:

mercyhousing.org

Batavia Apartments

Phone: (630) 879-3117

Fax: (630) 879-0665                  

Volunteer

Below are ideas for how you can volunteer:

• We often need help picking up furniture and delivering if you have a truck or manpower!
• Help organize and work prom drive in March (organize at Library; work/set up event at library; promote).  Help needed after event to clean up and move extra dresses to storage unit.
• Pick up food from Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry monthly to deliver to families in need who are without a car.
• Food collection drive for Friday Backpacks; work with Fox Valley Christian Church who makes backpacks every week - work with any groups who want to collect food.
• Start a gift card collection (a few churches did this and collected over 70, $10 gift cards). Most needed year-round: ALDI, gas, Target, Kohls, WalMart, Plato's Closet and Walgreens. OR SNACK Collection!
• There is often a big lost and found at each school around Christmas and end of school year with nice items. Volunteers are needed to pick up the items in December and May, wash them and give them to the Clothes Closet. 

Furniture Donations

As we have no storage, we take furniture on an as-needed basis. You can email CHIP IN Batavia directly for help or contact the below service groups for pick up.

St. Vincent de Paul

Deja Vu Thrift Shop: 

427 S. 4th Street

Geneva, IL  60134

(630) 232-6621

Deja Vu Furniture Store:

911 Sullivan Road

Aurora, IL  60506

(630) 397-8555 & (630) 841-1070