“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank, 1944.
Giving Tuesday 2025 is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, and according to GivingTuesday.org, last year’s national fundraising campaign was record-breaking when $3.6 billion was raised for organizations across the U.S. The efforts included 18.5 million participants who made financial contributions; and 9.2 million participants who volunteered their time.
McDonough County-area social service agencies, nonprofits and educational institutions are taking part in the day-long program to raise funds for their respective organizations.
Empowering Youth: Big Brothers Big Sisters of McDonough County Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of McDonough County empowers local youth through one-to-one mentoring with caring adults, helping kids build confidence, improve school performance, and form meaningful, supportive relationships. The agency is 100 percent community funded, and during Giving Tuesday, every contribution helps BBBS-McDonough County create more matches, support the matches already in place, and keep the office sustainable for staff to continue serving McDonough County youth—just as it has for the past 25 years.
Donations to support the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission can be made by check, payable to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), and mailed or dropped off at 1401 W University Drive, Macomb, IL 61455, or online at bbbs-mv.org.
Cultivating Hope through Housing: Genesis Garden
Home is the basis for success in all aspects of life. Genesis Garden offers support for those in housing crisis – whether facing eviction or already homeless. Genesis and Leighty Houses and motel vouchers are available as emergency shelter. Other supports include eviction prevention, rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing through private rentals. In the past year, 133 adults and kids stayed in Genesis emergency shelters, 41 household evictions were prevented, 53 households (120 adults, 81 kids) gained homes through rapid re-housing and eight households reside in permanent supportive housing.
Genesis Garden has opened more shelter units and is expanding permanent housing. Contributions on Giving Tuesday at genesis- garden.org will purchase items like shampoo and pillows for the shelter, phone cards or shoes, and increase funds to purchase property.
Donations may be mailed to Genesis Garden, 307 E. Carroll St, Macomb, or by calling (309) 326-3075.
Help Genesis Garden ensure everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.
Providing for the Community: The Giving Gardens The Giving Gardens (GG) mission is to provide access to gardens in every neighborhood. In 2025, GG served nine neighborhoods with public access gardens, and there are plans to expand those existing gardens in 2026, including three new Macomb gardens. The public access gardens provide access to fresh vegetables, flowers, herbs, and berries and serve as an important gathering place in the neighborhoods that are served.
GG receives the majority of their funding from local people and businesses. On Giving Tuesday, The Giving Gardens will launch their year-end campaign to assist with funding the expansion and growth in the number of gardens available in 2026.
To make a donation to support the GG mission, make checks payable to The Giving Gardens, and mail to The Giving Gardens, 400 E. Carroll St, Macomb, IL 61455, or can be made online at Givinggardensforall.com.
For the Love of Animals: Humane Society of McDonough County Take advantage of Giving Tuesday to contribute to a new match initiative for the Humane Society of McDonough County’s New Animal Shelter Campaign.
Gloria (Caldwell), originally from Macomb, and Edwin Vankan, who live in the state pf Virginia, are offering a match for the new animal shelter. The match campaign will run from Thanksgiving through Feb. 14, 2026.
The Vankans are once again donating $10,000 matching funds for construction of the new animal shelter: “In memory of our adopted dog, Spanky, and in celebration of all animals that have been adopted from the McDonough County Animal Shelter.” Earlier this year, the couple matched funds up to $10,000 in memory of Gloria’s parents, Helen and Ernest Caldwell of Macomb.
The City of Macomb has leased land to the HSMC just east of the shelter on Tower Road for the new shelter.
There is currently over $1 million in the building campaign fund, and according to HSMC President Bonnie Smith-Skripps, the group anticipates needing at least $500,000 to complete the project.
To donate to the building fund campaign, visit hsmcil. org/building-campaign to give online, Venmo @ HumaneSocietyofMc-DonoughCounty or mail, checks made payable to the Humane Society of McDonough County (building fund campaign in memo), to P.O. Box 7, Macomb, IL 61455.
Feeding Their Communities: Loaves and Fishes of Macomb An anonymous donor is challenging the community to donate to Loaves and Fishes, and will be matching donations received Dec. 2 up to $10,000. If the challenge is met on Giving Tuesday, $20,000 will feed over 400 families. Donations can be sent to Loaves and Fishes, PO Box 9 Macomb, IL, 61455.
Individuals can also message [email protected].
Loaves and Fishes of Macomb had been serving an average of 435 families monthly and spending over $15,000/month. Since the start of 2025, more than 3,905 households were served and close to $123,000 in food vouchers were distributed by Loaves & Fishes of Macomb. The local nonprofit provides grocery vouchers once a month that can be used at Hy-Vee and Jackson Street Market in Macomb and the Bushnell Market.
United For Good: McDonough County United Way The McDonough County United Way (MCUW) works to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to advance the common good. The local organization brings together donors, advocates, volunteers and community partners who believe in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive, and each year, the MCUW’s 18 partner agencies make a lasting impact in the lives of thousands of McDonough County residents through vital programs and services that support health, education and financial stability. In addition to funding local agencies, the agency supports the community through several key initiatives, including Macomb School District’s Care Closet, and the Imagination Book Club, which distributes hundreds of books to local children.
To support the McDonough County United Way’s mission, donations can be sent by mail (checks payable to McDonough County United Way), to McDonough County United Way, 440 N.
Lafayette, Ste. 106 Macomb, IL 61455, or online at mcdonoughcountyunitedway. square.site.
Stronger Together: McDonough District Hospital As a rural hospital, MDH is committed to providing dependable, high-quality critical care close to home.
Due to financial challenges, many of the hospital’s capital projects have been impacted, from equipment replacements to key facility updates.
A Giving Tuesday gift to MDH will help advance these projects and strengthen the safe, reliable care the community depends on.
The MDH Foundation Board and Hospital Board of Directors have agreed to a board-funded match of up to $1,000. Every gift made on Giving Tuesday will be doubled, helping McDonough District make an even bigger difference for MDH and the families they serve.
To donate, visit mdh.org/ makeagift or contact the MDH Foundation at 309836-1757.
A Bright Spot in Someone’s Life: Mosaic Mosaic is a whole-person healthcare organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other diverse needs. The services provided help them reach their goals and empower them to live their best life.
“Your gift to Mosaic on Giving Tuesday could help someone get a new winter coat, a needed pair of new shoes, warm bedding or countless other items their limited funds make hard to purchase,” said Mosaic Area Director Jennifer Dailey.
“Those things give people we support a bright spot, a reason to smile and feel good.”
Mosaic has been supporting people with developmental disabilities and other diverse needs since 1913. Today, the organization serves nearly 5,000 people in more than 750 communities across 12 states.
To learn more about Mosaic and how to donate as part of Giving Tuesday, visit mosaicinfo.org/ macomb-partners .
Where Heart & Home Come Together: The Samaritan Well The Samaritan Well Inc. of Macomb was incorporated in 1998 as a transitional housing program for women and women with children experiencing homelessness.
In 2008, the agency acquired the use of a second building, which allowed the agency to expand its services to include men and men with children experiencing homelessness.
Today, The Samaritan Well continues to operate the two shelters serving individuals and families. The shelters offer housing with primarily private rooms, shared bathrooms, laundry facilities, kitchen space, and opportunities for socialization and recreation. The organization provides a temporary, supportive, structured and safe environment with case management services to individuals and families as they seek solutions to meet their needs.
According to Director Amber Clark, donations help the organization to maintain operations of the shelters and provide for those in the community who are unhoused.
While The Samaritan Well receives some funding through grant programs, the local organization relies on the generosity of its donors.
For more information and to donate, visit thesamaritanwellinc. org.
GivingSPOONday – Our Community. Our Future: Spoon River College Spoon River College (SRC), with campuses in Canton and Macomb, has a goal of 300 gifts by midnight, Dec. 2.
“A gift to the SRC Foundation helps students pay their tuition, but it goes beyond that,” said SRC President Curt Oldfield. “It helps fill the student needs pantries on each campus which provide non-perishable food and toiletries, provides emergency grants for students in crisis, and creates innovative educational opportunities.”
To make a gift to SRC or to learn how to get involved, visit src.edu/givingtuesday, visit the Spoon River College Foundation Facebook page (facebook.com/spoonrivercollegefoundation), or call (309) 833-6083.
News, Culture, Curiosity: Tri State Public Radio A gift to Tri States Public Radio fuels their mission of providing information and entertainment of the highest possible caliber to enrich and engage the public, enhance quality of life and meet the diverse needs of people in our region and beyond.
For decades, the west-central Illinois ‘burg of Macomb and the surrounding region has had their fingertips on the pulse of the world thanks to Tri States Public Radio (TSPR) on the Western Illinois University-Macomb campus. What began as WKKS in 1956 has grown into TSPR, a 50,000-watt NPR station that reaches thousands of households throughout Illinois and parts of Iowa and Missouri.
The station brings local, state, national and world news, classical, folk and jazz music, specialty programs and more to the area known as “Forgottonia.” TSPR is a mixed-format station, which means, its 365/24/7 on-air services include both music, programming (national and locally based) and news. The Macomb-based radio station is the only local radio station that is a daily local – and reliable - news source, that also provides emergency notices to keep area residents apprised of inclement weather and other disasters.
To give to TSPR, visit tspr. org/donate. Funds raised go toward operations and programming.
Improving Lives & Neighborhoods: Western Illinois Regional Council
WIRC-Community Action Agency’s Giving Tuesday campaign will support three initiatives: Good Food Pantry, Project Santa and Urgent Needs (funds go to where they are needed most). The public is encouraged to donate by either mailing or hand-delivering a check to WIRC, 133 W Jackson St., Macomb, IL 61455, or by visiting wirpc. org/donate.
Donations of any amount are appreciated and will make a positive impact for the hard-working people assisted through WIRC’s free community services and programs in western Illinois.
Investing in Students’ Futures: Western Illinois University Giving Tuesday provides an opportunity for friends and alumni of WIU to invest in the future of students and the University, while upholding the rich tradition of philanthropy that has been a cornerstone of WIU’s success.
“Giving Tuesday is a special day for our Leatherneck community to come together in support of our students,” said WIU Director of Annual Giving Tim Hallinan. “More alumni and friends are choosing to give through their donor advised funds, and our online giving form makes it simple to do so. By making your year-end gift to the area of Western you care about most, you help create lasting opportunities that support our students and our University.” For more information, visit wiu.edu/givingtuesday.
