407 North Sangamon Avenue, Gibson City, Illinois 60936, United States
HELPING THE HOMELESS ONE BAG AT A TIME!
You can help make a difference. Please donate.
We are a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.
Welcome
We are McKenna's Bags!
What started as helping one young woman we met on the street has now become an amazing life changing experience for us and those we are helping. We are now a 501c3 non profit organization that puts together bags of toiletries and and other essentials as well as makes sleep mats out of plastic grocery bags for the homeless!
About Us
Our History
How McKenna’s Bags got
started…
In Nov. of 2017 our family met a young lady named Naomi. She was homeless and hungry. We went and picked up a meal for her and a hot chocolate to help warm her up on this snowy Sunday afternoon. When we came back she was gone. McKenna (9 yrs old), began to wonder what could have happened to her. She was very upset thinking about the fact that this girl who probably wasn’t any older than 19 was alone, hungry and didn’t have a home to go to. After a few minutes we found her again and she was so grateful that she started to cry and give each of us hugs. After a short conversation we said a little prayer together, shared another hug and wished her well. The more that we talked about her afterwards the more questions that McKenna had and the more concerned she was for anyone else in a similar situation. We took her to the Dollar store and had her pick items that she thought someone who was homeless would need or want so the next time we met someone we would be prepared.
Since then we have given out over 1100 bags.
What's new
Over the years we have evolved with what the world has thrown at us. Now, life brought us to a new town, and we are going to try something new. McKenna's Bags now has a Self Help Pantry in our yard. We will be offering not only bags and mats, but items that go in our bags and other personal items that have been donated. They will be available for anyone who is in need any time of the day or night. Since we have moved we have been made aware of the large homeless population in the Champaign, Urbana and Bloomington areas. So as much as we will miss visiting those we became close with in the city of Chicago, we are now going to be reaching out to others down here in central Illinois as well.
Our History
How McKenna’s Bags got
started…
In Nov. of 2017 our family met a young lady named Naomi. She was homeless and hungry. We went and picked up a meal for her and a hot chocolate to help warm her up on this snowy Sunday afternoon. When we came back she was gone. McKenna (9 yrs old), began to wonder what could have happened to her. She was very upset thinking about the fact that this girl who probably wasn’t any older than 19 was alone, hungry and didn’t have a home to go to. After a few minutes we found her again and she was so grateful that she started to cry and give each of us hugs. After a short conversation we said a little prayer together, shared another hug and wished her well. The more that we talked about her afterwards the more questions that McKenna had and the more concerned she was for anyone else in a similar situation. We took her to the Dollar store and had her pick items that she thought someone who was homeless would need or want so the next time we met someone we would be prepared.
Since then we have given out over 1100 bags.
What's new
Over the years we have evolved with what the world has thrown at us. Now, life brought us to a new town, and we are going to try something new. McKenna's Bags now has a Self Help Pantry in our yard. We will be offering not only bags and mats, but items that go in our bags and other personal items that have been donated. They will be available for anyone who is in need any time of the day or night. Since we have moved we have been made aware of the large homeless population in the Champaign, Urbana and Bloomington areas. So as much as we will miss visiting those we became close with in the city of Chicago, we are now going to be reaching out to others down here in central Illinois as well.
Our History
How McKenna’s Bags got
started…
In Nov. of 2017 our family met a young lady named Naomi. She was homeless and hungry. We went and picked up a meal for her and a hot chocolate to help warm her up on this snowy Sunday afternoon. When we came back she was gone. McKenna (9 yrs old), began to wonder what could have happened to her. She was very upset thinking about the fact that this girl who probably wasn’t any older than 19 was alone, hungry and didn’t have a home to go to. After a few minutes we found her again and she was so grateful that she started to cry and give each of us hugs. After a short conversation we said a little prayer together, shared another hug and wished her well. The more that we talked about her afterwards the more questions that McKenna had and the more concerned she was for anyone else in a similar situation. We took her to the Dollar store and had her pick items that she thought someone who was homeless would need or want so the next time we met someone we would be prepared.
Since then we have given out over 1100 bags.
What's new
Over the years we have evolved with what the world has thrown at us. Now, life brought us to a new town, and we are going to try something new. McKenna's Bags now has a Self Help Pantry in our yard. We will be offering not only bags and mats, but items that go in our bags and other personal items that have been donated. They will be available for anyone who is in need any time of the day or night. Since we have moved we have been made aware of the large homeless population in the Champaign, Urbana and Bloomington areas. So as much as we will miss visiting those we became close with in the city of Chicago, we are now going to be reaching out to others down here in central Illinois as well.
Donation Locations
DONATION LOCATIONS
Illinois:
Chicago- 6626 N. Oliphant
Fox River Grove- 401 Opatrny
Gibson City- 407 N. Sangamon Ave
Henry- 207 A Stoner Dr.
Schaumburg- 317 W. Beech
Waterman- 193 W. Fuller Dr.
Indiana:
Portage- 5335 Willow
Support McKenna's Bags's Mission
What can you do to help?
Lots of people want to help, but either don't know how, don't have the time or don't feel comfortable approaching people. So we try to make helping easier for you. Here are some options so that you can help the homeless and those in need without making a drastic change in your daily life.
-While shopping grab a couple of extra items from our list. (They are all available at most stores, even at the dollar store).
-Collect travel size items while on vacation.
-Collect plastic grocery bags
Volunteer Opportunities
-Learn how to plarn
- Flatten, Cut and Tie plastic bags.
-If you know how to crochet or knit
-You can make hats, scarves or mats
We can even offer service hours!
Donations needed!
This weeks most needed item(s): Gloves and yarn
$1.00
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Photo Gallery
Any assistance is greatly appreciated!
Your generous donation will fund our mission.
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