Water color paint sets are just one of the many items that can be found on the "Wish Lists" of Elgin charities this year.

Looking for a great way to spread the spirit of giving this year? One that will make a powerful impact in Del Webb’s Edgewater community and will last past the time when the wrapping paper is torn away, the Christmas tree is taken down and the new year has arrived?

Edgewater residents have a wealth of Elgin-based resources to support with everything from cash to cleaning supplies and volunteer opportunities to vacuums. These agencies provide a wide range of services, including counseling for troubled families, after-school care, literacy programs, help for mentally and physically challenged children and adults, assistance for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, vocational help for adults with disabilities and more.

As reported recently in the Elgin Courier and compiled by the Elgin Chamber Catalog of Guide, every item on this “Wish List” is something that will make the coming year a little easier. So, Del Webb encourages you to review the names and needs of below, then contact the individual agencies at the phone numbers and addresses provided.

Boys & Girls Club of Elgin

355 Dundee Ave., P.O. Box 416, Elgin, IL 60121; contact Ginny Godfrey, ggodfrey@foxvalley.net or (847) 608-5017.
• Wish list: Funding to sponsor programs; volunteers to help with after-school programs and fundraising events; dodge balls; volleyballs; scientific calculators for middle-school level; notebooks (college-ruled); scissors; children’s safety scissors; poster paper; pencils (colored pencils and No. 2); dry erase markers (multiple colors); markers; rulers; legal pads; postage stamps (first class and postcard); arts and crafts supplies; cleaning supplies; antibacterial soap; plastic storage bins; office supplies; copy paper; gift certificates to grocery stores, hardware stores, Target, Wal-Mart, office supply stores, Ikea, restaurants and hobby stores.

Centro de Informacion

28 N. Grove Ave., Suite 200, Elgin, IL 60120; contact Cathy Korak at c.korak@centrodeinformacion.org or (847) 695 9050, ext. 313.
• Wish list: Nonperishable food; monetary donations to purchase nonperishable food for emergency food pantry.

Community Crisis Center

P.O. Box 1390, Elgin, IL 60121; contact Lisa Sampson at lsampson@crisiscenter.org or (847) 742-4088.
• Wish list: Nonperishable food; personal-care items; office supplies; winter clothing; volunteers for lobby and Reruns, Too Thrift Store (call Arlene at (847) 742-4088); home-baked or store-bought cookies; nonviolent toys for children; wristwatches; journals; slippers; and pocket calendars for women.

Easter Seals DuPage & The Fox Valley Region

799 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Stephanie Walsh at swalsh@eastersealsdfvr.org or (630) 282-2031.
• Wish list: New children’s books; infant and toddler bibs; crib sheets; baby food; towels; hand and bath towels; activity carpets, plastic play food; gift cards to retail stores; and developmental toys.

Elgin Day Care Center

210 National St., Elgin, IL 60120; contact Cheri Skunickl at cskunickl@kidshopeunited.org or (847) 697-7100.
• Wish list: Dustbusters; vacuum cleaner; six-quart Rubbermaid containers; crib sheets; Swiffer mops; Swiffer cleaning pads for mops; Swiffer dusters; Swiffer dust pad refills; brooms; dust pans; small hand brooms; large Rubbermaid storage bins (blue and green); small garbage cans; plastic cereal containers; Mr. Clean magic erasers; bubbles and refill bottles); bubble machine; sippy cups for infants and toddlers; infant spoons; bibs; corn starch; sandwich bags; zip-top bags (all sizes); Velcro strips (double-sided); food coloring; stickers; bottles; potting soil; sand; glue guns; blenders; electric frying pans; and slow cookers.

Greater Elgin Area YMCA

50 N. McLean Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Elizabeth Davin at edavin@elginymca.org or (847) 888-7410.
• Wish list: Six- or eight-foot tables; stackable folding chairs; board games (for children and adults); craft supplies (glue, markers, construction paper, glue sticks); school supplies (notebook paper, pens, pencils); playing balls; bean bags; storage cabinet with shelves; stereo system; full-size refrigerator.

The FITE Center for Independent Living

730 W. Chicago St., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Lindsay Sensor atlesnsor@fitecil.org or (847) 695-5818.
• Wish list: Any old computers or computer equipment; paper folding machine, phone system; office supplies (printer, paper, pens, pencils, toner and ink cartridges, notebooks, labels, calculators, legal pads); office or any other type of furniture; volunteers (grant writer, event coordinators, fundraisers, reception, case managers); gift certificates and various items for ongoing raffles; kitchen utensils, dishes, microwave or maintenance carts; any cleaning supplies; toilet paper or paper towel dispensers and refills.

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley / ReStore

20 S. Grove Ave., Suite 201, Carpentersville, IL 60110; contact Barb Beckman at barb.beckman@hfhnfv.org or (847) 836-1432.
• Wish list: Hammers; tape measures; utility knives; painter’s tape; red warning flags; copy paper (boxes of white, multicolored and Astrobrite green); laminator; baling twine; cardboard baler; 24-foot box truck to help pick up donated items; scaffolding; pallet jacks; exhibit booth; snow blower; services (snow plowing of ReStore lot, pallet jack maintenance, truck maintenance).

The Larkin Center

1212 Larkin Ave., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Claudia Vanderlinder or Renetta Butler at cvandelinder@larkincenter.org or (847) 695-5656, ext. 217.
• Wish list: Earrings (14-karat gold hoops); girl’s winter jacket (sizes 3-5 juniors); jeans or pants (girl size 3 in juniors); sweaters (girl sizes 3-5 in juniors); shirts (girl sizes 3-5 in juniors); gift cards for iTunes or Apple store); comforter (Disney Pixar Cars toddler comforter set for toddler bed); boys’ pajamas (sizes 24-36 months); Tickle Me Ernie Doll; tricycle; boys’ snow boots; (size 7, toddle); hats/gloves; CD player (Sesame Street for toddlers); Disney Pixar Shake ‘n Go Car; animal learning books or any learning books; Disney Pixar Cars fleece toddler blanket; TracFone wireless airtime card.

The Literacy Connection

270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; e-mail dtaylor@elginliteracy.org or call (847) 742-6565.

• Wish list: Volunteers to help adults reach their literacy goals; administrative help with data entry, filing, graphic design, newsletters, mailings fundraisers, etc.; assistance at local events and fairs by speaking to people about how to become a literacy tutor; help with organizing or running annual fundraising events; digital cameras; video camera; DVD player; binders/notebooks; booklet or centerfold stapler; 10-key calculator w/tape; cordless computer vacuum; portable cassette players; new receipt books; mailing labels (#5160); printer ink cartridges (call for types); award/certificate paper; gift cards for stores that carry office supplies or books; computer monitor (17 inch or larger flat screen); wooden bookshelves; ergonomic chairs; UniSpin carousel; promotional materials with The Literacy Connection name and logo; refrigerator magnets; bookmarks; book plates; pens; buttons; banner; children’s books in English or Spanish; bilingual dictionaries (English/Spanish and English/Korean); basic dictionaries (large print); pocket calendars; gift certificates; products and prizes for student recognition; used inkjet or printer cartridges for recycling (call for brands); used cell phones; refreshment sponsors for various fundraising events.

Little Angels Parents ARC

1435 Summit St., Elgin, IL 60120, contact Mary Jean Adkins atmaryjean@little-angels.us or (847) 741-1609, ext. 101.
• Wish list: Batteries (AA, C); gift cards (Speedway, Wal-Mart, Target, Jewel, Hobby Lobby, Bath & Body Works, restaurants); craft supplies (hot glue gun/glue sticks, 3M hooks w/adhesive pads, tacky putty adhesive); movie gift cards; toys; battery-operated objects that sing, dance, talk or vibrate; over-the-counter medicine; personal-care items — Almay hypoallergenic deodorant, Eucerin Original Moisturizing Lotion, Equate (Wal-Mart) Skin Cleanser Gentle Formula, Equate Advanced Healing Lotion, Desitin Clear Ointment, A&D Ointment, Sea Breeze, unscented baby oil, Vaseline Lip Therapy (4-ounce tube).

Oak Crest and Atrium Apartments/Hope Cottage

204 S. State St., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Marlene Pokorny at marlene@oakcrestatrium.org or (847) 742-2255.
• Wish list: Padded card table with padded chairs; 42-inch flat-screen TV; new computer with monitor, keyboard and printer; stacking chairs; beautician chair; dryer chair for beauty shop; pedicure chair with foot soak bowl; manicurist table and chair; stereo system; surround-sound system.

Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) of Elgin

1730 Berkley St., Elgin, IL 60123; contact Brittany Mitchell at bmitchell@padsofelgin.org or (847) 608-9744.
• Wish list: Toilet paper; sugar and sugar substitute packets; coffee creamer (powdered); trash bags (33 and 39 gallons); laundry soap (powdered); boxes of facial tissue; hooded sweatshirts (adult sizes); long underwear (adult sizes); wristwatches; personal CD players; work-style boots; gas cards; gift cards (Wal-Mart or Meijer).

The Salvation Army

316 Douglas Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; contact Ken Nicolai,ken_nicolai@usc.salvationarmy.org or (847) 741-2304.
• Wish list: Pool table; foosball table; air hockey game; flat cart for moving items around facility; hand truck suitable for moving items up and down stairs; floor wax; arts and craft items; board games; 2½-by-8-foot tables; volunteer bell ringers; volunteers to sort, set up and distribute gifts, food and clothing for needy families (week of Dec. 15); catered lunches for volunteers helping with distribution week of Dec. 15.

Senior Services Associates Inc.

101 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; contact Mike Sullivan, msullivan@seniorservicesassoc.org or (847) 741-0404.

• Wish list: Portable humidifiers; computer scanners; gas cards; winter clothing; gift cards (food, Target, Wal-Mart and Meijer).

YWCA Elgin

220 E. Chicago St., Elgin, IL 60120, contact Julia McClendon at info@ywcaelgin.org or (847) 742-7930.

• Wish list: Copy machine; art supplies for children (glue, craft foam sheets, construction paper, markers and more for children’s programs); scholarships to help families with child care costs; balls and gym equipment; office supplies (paper, electric pencil sharpeners, adding machine, calculators); paper plates and cups; lined paper; book tape; batteries (AA and AAA); zip-top bags; children’s coats (boys and girls, various sizes); Christmas gifts for children.