425 S Halsted St · (708) 543-2555
Pick your area to filter the lists below — crisis & abuse lines stay visible no matter what.
Free & Low-Cost Training
Get your GED, CNA, food license & CPR — free or cheap
What's available in the south suburbs and exactly who to contact. Open the guide →
Neighbor to Neighbor
Give or get help
This part runs on us. If you need clothes, coats, shoes, or other items, ask. If you've got something to give, post it. We connect you — community to community.
Need a hand?
Clothes · coats · shoes · food · household · kids' itemsTell us what you're looking for and we'll match you with a neighbor who can help. Free and confidential.
Request Help →Got something to give?
Drop-off or pickup · person to personPost what you have and we'll connect you with someone who needs it. Every coat and pair of shoes counts.
Donate Items →Free Food This Week
Where & when food is given out
Pantries near South Holland, listed by the day they distribute. Bring a photo ID and proof of address to be safe.
Monday
Respond NowChicago Heights3:00–7:00 PM
Tuesday
Operation Blessing SouthAlsip9:00 AM–12:00 PM
4901 W 128th Pl · (708) 597-6326
Lighthouse Church of All NationsAlsip3:00–5:45 PM
4501 W 127th St · (708) 385-6020
Free-N-DeedDoltonCall to confirm
14200 Chicago Rd · (708) 880-0468
Wednesday
Operation Blessing SouthAlsip12:00–3:00 PM
4901 W 128th Pl · (708) 597-6326
Hazel Crest Community UMCHazel Crest10:00 AM–12:00 PM
17050 S California Ave
Respond NowChicago Heights10:00 AM–2:00 PM
425 S Halsted St · (708) 543-2555
Free-N-DeedDolton4:00–6:00 PM
14200 Chicago Rd · (708) 880-0468
Thursday
Operation Blessing SouthAlsip9:00 AM–12:00 PM
4901 W 128th Pl · (708) 597-6326
Free-N-DeedDoltonCall to confirm
14200 Chicago Rd · (708) 880-0468
Friday
Operation Blessing SouthAlsip9:00 AM–12:00 PM
4901 W 128th Pl · (708) 597-6326
Saturday
Restoration MinistriesHarvey8:30 AM–12:30 PM
253 E 159th St · (708) 333-3370
Covenant United Church of ChristSouth Holland9:30 AM–12:00 PM
1102 E 154th St · (708) 333-5955
Ordained of God Full Gospel ChurchRiverdale10:00 AM–12:00 PM
13750 S Leyden Ave · (866) 673-2467
Free Food — South Suburbs
South Suburbs pantries — addresses & numbers
The same pantries as the weekly list above, with their address and a number to call ahead. Hours change — a quick call saves a wasted trip. Most ask for a photo ID and proof of address.
Ford Heights Community Service Org
943 E Lincoln Hwy, Ford Heights · food & housing help☎ (708) 758-2565Free Food — Chicago
Food pantries across Chicago
Real pantries by side of the city. Hours change often — call before you go, or use the live food map below to find the closest open site.
Can't Find One Near You?
Search the live food maps
These official maps stay current and cover every pantry in the area — use them to find the closest open site today.
Free & Low-Cost Health
Medical & dental clinics
Community health centers near South Holland that serve everyone — insured or not. Most use a sliding scale based on your income, so you pay what you can. Call for an appointment.
Free & Low-Cost Health — Chicago
Community health centers in Chicago
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) — primary, dental, and behavioral care on a sliding scale, uninsured welcome. Call for an appointment.
Emergency & Hospital Care
Hospitals near you
For a life-threatening emergency, always call 911. Below are hospitals across the South Suburbs and Chicago, by area. Call ahead for non-emergency visits.
SOUTH SUBURBS
CHICAGO
Shelter & Housing
Shelters & safe housing
Emergency shelter and housing help across the South Suburbs and Chicago. In a domestic-violence emergency, call the 24/7 hotline 1-800-787-3224. For shelter placement, call 311 in Chicago or 877-426-6515 in suburban Cook County.
SOUTH SUBURBS
Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Tinley Park · domestic violence · confidential location☎ 24/7 hotline (708) 429-7233South Suburban Family Shelter
Homewood · domestic violence · confidential location☎ 24-hr hotline (708) 335-3028CHICAGO
Cornerstone Community Outreach
4628 N Clifton Ave · Uptown · North · women & families☎ (773) 271-8163Keep Your Home
Rent, utilities & housing help
Behind on heat, rent, or facing eviction? Help is free and available across Cook County and Chicago — most regardless of income or immigration status. Call early, before a shutoff or court date.
Heat, electric & water
CEDA — Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)Call 800-571-2332Help paying heat, electric & past-due water bills, and stopping shutoffs. Serves all Cook County & Chicago. Or text CEDA to 313131.
Chicago Utility & Water Billing ReliefCall 311Chicago residents: reduced water/sewer rates & shutoff protection through the Utility Billing Relief program.
Rent, eviction & legal
Cook County Legal Aid for Housing & DebtCall 855-956-5763Free help with eviction, rental debt & housing problems. All of Cook County, any income or immigration status. Mon–Fri 9–4:30.
South Suburban Housing CenterCall 708-957-4674Fair housing & counseling for the south suburbs — rent, foreclosure & discrimination help.
Chicago Renters' Rights HotlineCall 312-742-7368Know your rights as a renter in Chicago — deposits, repairs, lockouts & more.
Find more, fast
2-1-1 Community Help LineCall 211Free 24/7 navigation to rent, utility, food & housing help near you.
Work & Training
Jobs & job training
Free help finding work, building a resume, and getting trained for a new career — including paid training in logistics, the trades, and more. Open to all ages; many programs cover the cost of training for you.
Start here — anyone in Illinois
Illinois workNetVisit illinoisworknet.comFree online career help: resume tools, job search, and a finder for training & job centers near you.
IDES — Unemployment benefitsCall 800-244-5631Illinois Dept. of Employment Security — file or ask about an unemployment claim.
2-1-1 Job & Training HelpCall 211Free, 24/7 — find the closest job center, training program, or hiring event.
Build a free resumeOpen resume builderCCR's own fill-in-the-blanks tool — make a clean resume and save it as a PDF. No sign-up, nothing leaves your phone.
South Suburbs
South Suburban American Job CenterCall 708-709-7975At Prairie State College — 202 S Halsted St, Chicago Heights. Free resume & interview help, plus training they help pay for. Operated by National Able.
Opportunity Works (ages 16–24)Call 708-709-2957Prairie State College — free training + paid internships in logistics, transportation, IT & manufacturing for young adults in suburban Cook.
Chicago
Greater West Town ProjectCall 312-563-9570500 N Sacramento Blvd — no-cost training in Transportation/Distribution/Logistics & Woodworking, plus job placement. West Side.
Chicago Cook Workforce PartnershipVisit chicookworks.orgNetwork of ~70 American Job Centers across Chicago & suburban Cook — find your nearest center, or call 211.
Trades & apprenticeships — earn while you learn
A union apprenticeship pays you while it trains you — no tuition, no student debt. You start earning right away and your pay rises as you learn. Most ask only that you're 17 or 18+, have a high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver's license. Several train right here in the south suburbs.
HIRE360 — start here if you're newCall 312-575-2500Free program that helps you pick a trade, prep for the test, and get into a union apprenticeship — covers boots, tools & more. Especially for those new to the trades. Apply at hire360chicago.com.
Electrician — IBEW-NECA (EJATT)Call 708-389-1340Training center at 6201 W 115th St, Alsip. Walk-in registration Wednesdays 9–11am. Paid 5-year program. ejatt.com
Pipefitter / Welder / HVAC — Local 597Call 708-326-9240Training center at 10850 W 187th St, Mokena. Paid 5-year program; apply on an “Application Day.” pftf597.org
Plumber — Local 130 UACall 312-421-1010Joint Apprenticeship, 1340 W Washington Blvd, Chicago. Paid, earn-while-you-learn. plumberslu130ua.org
Roofer — Chicagoland Roofers (Local 11)Call 708-246-4488Joint Apprenticeship & Training, 7045 Joliet Rd, Indian Head Park. Paid on-the-job training. chicagoroofers.org
Crisis & Reporting Lines
Someone to call, any hour
Free, confidential, and open 24/7 unless noted. You can call on someone else's behalf, and many reports can be made anonymously.
Crisis & mental health
Domestic violence
Illinois Domestic Violence HelplineCall 877-863-6338Call or text, 24/7. Safety planning & shelter referrals.
Sexual assault
Child abuse & neglect
Illinois DCFS Child Abuse HotlineCall 800-252-2873800-25-ABUSE. Report suspected child abuse, 24/7. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.
Elder & adult abuse / neglect
Illinois Adult Protective ServicesCall 866-800-1409Abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults 60+ or adults 18–59 with disabilities, living at home. 24/7.
Nursing Home Complaint HotlineCall 800-252-4343Report neglect or abuse in a nursing facility (IL Dept. of Public Health).
Substance use & everyday help
For Veterans
Veteran support lines
Crisis help, benefits, and housing — many answered by veterans themselves. You can call on a veteran's behalf, too.
Crisis
Benefits & housing
VA Benefits — MyVA411Call 800-698-2411VA's main line for benefits, health care, and questions. 24/7.
National Call Center for Homeless VeteransCall 877-424-3838Free & confidential, 24/7, for veterans homeless or at risk.
Hines VA Homeless Outreach (local)Call 708-202-4961Chicago-area outreach — the goal is to reach the veteran within 24 hours.
Nearest VA medical centers
Edward Hines Jr. VA HospitalCall 708-202-83875000 S 5th Ave, Hines — largest VA in Illinois, serves Chicago & the south suburbs.
Run a pantry, clinic, or nonprofit?
Get your organization on this board for free. List your hours, what you give out, and what you need — and connect with local businesses giving back through the Foundation.
List Your Nonprofit or Resource