A holiday push for foster children
As the season of giving takes hold, Barrington will serve as a hub for two efforts designed to support children in foster care across Northern Illinois, according to Let It Be Us. The Barrington-based, licensed child welfare agency says it will host its annual Toy Drive on December 11–12 at 145 West Main Street in Barrington and an adults-only gingerbread fundraiser, Candy Cottage for a Cause, on December 4 at Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook.
The events are intended to rally local donors and volunteers around concrete needs and long-term outcomes for children awaiting permanent homes, as described by Let It Be Us. The agency adds that proceeds from the fundraiser will support its programs statewide.
Two ways to give this season
The Toy Drive will collect new, unwrapped toys for children in foster care throughout Northern Illinois on December 11 and 12 at the organization’s headquarters, according to Let It Be Us. The agency notes it is also accepting seasonal supplies to help prepare gifts for delivery, as well as monetary contributions to purchase items on donors’ behalf.
Accepted donations include:
- New, unwrapped toys for children in foster care
- Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape
- Monetary donations to fund gift purchases
In addition, the adults-only Candy Cottage for a Cause: Gingerbread Holiday Fundraiser for Foster Care and Adoption will be held December 4 at Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook, according to Let It Be Us. The organization says the evening will feature gingerbread house decorating and seasonal refreshments, and that ticket purchases support programs helping children and teens in foster care find permanent, loving homes.
How donations will be used
Gifts collected during the Toy Drive will be coordinated and distributed through established child welfare channels, including the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), CASA of Lake County and several local group homes, according to Let It Be Us. The agency explains that leveraging these partners ensures donations reach children efficiently and in a manner consistent with confidentiality and caseworker guidance.
Organizers recommend simple, donor-friendly logistics—such as clear drop-off windows, straightforward intake checklists, and close coordination with partner agencies to protect children’s privacy—to help streamline the process and match gifts to children’s needs, according to Let It Be Us.
The public announcement does not specify attendance targets for the fundraiser or projected distribution counts for the Toy Drive; those details were not included by Let It Be Us.
The mission behind the festivities
Beyond seasonal giving, the organization underscores its year-round work to connect families and children. According to Let It Be Us, the agency manages the Illinois Adoption Listing Service and The Heart Gallery of Illinois—interactive tools that help caseworkers and prospective families learn about children and teens who are legally available for adoption. The organization says its efforts prioritize connecting licensed foster parents with children who have specialized needs, are part of sibling groups, or have spent extended time in care.
“Our mission has always been to create innovative solutions that improve the futures of waiting children. Events like the Toy Drive and Candy Cottage for a Cause not only raise awareness but also directly support our work to ensure every child in Illinois foster care has the opportunity to grow up in a loving, permanent home,” said Dr. Susan McConnell, Executive Director of Let It Be Us, in a statement provided by Let It Be Us.
Why Barrington is well-positioned to help
The events tap into a civic base accustomed to philanthropy. Barrington is an affluent suburb roughly 30 miles northwest of Chicago with a population of about 10,722 and a median household income of $112,794, as reported by Barrington, Illinois (Wikipedia). Organizers say that local generosity can play a pivotal role in meeting holiday needs for foster children while also sustaining the systems that help move children from temporary care to permanent homes, according to Let It Be Us.
That dual focus—providing immediate holiday support and bolstering longer-term adoption visibility—aligns with the organization’s statewide mission, according to Let It Be Us. The agency says donations and event proceeds help strengthen tools, outreach and caseworker support aimed at securing loving, permanent homes for waiting children.
What Barrington-area residents can do
Residents who want to contribute can bring new, unwrapped toys and wrapping supplies during the Toy Drive on December 11–12 at 145 West Main Street in Barrington, according to Let It Be Us. Those interested in a festive night out can attend the adults-only Candy Cottage for a Cause at Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook on December 4, with tickets available through the organization’s site, according to Let It Be Us.
As the holidays near, the agency says these two gatherings offer a straightforward way to blend seasonal cheer with tangible impact for children in foster care across Northern Illinois, according to Let It Be Us. The hope, organizers add, is that local generosity this month will echo well beyond the season—supporting the steady, year-round work of helping waiting children find permanent families.
