YOU’RE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR VILLAGE
Our Mission
The goal of Village606 is to strengthen our Chicago Village one block at a time. We create spaces for volunteers to help their Village by donating items & packing #BlessingBags for the unhoused, and cleaning up the outdoor spaces we call home. Our ultimate goal is to take those abandoned lots in Westside neighborhoods and turn them into community-run green spaces. Spaces that can be the hub for block beautification projects, community gardens, community building and organizing, health and wellness activities, and mental health support.
Our Initiatives
Support
Helping the Unhoused
What started as a family packing bags for the unhoused members of our community on New Year’s Day in 2018, eventually became Village606. We continue the tradition of our annual #BlessingBag drive by asking for community donations of everything from new socks to restaurant gift cards. We pack up at least 100 bags in with volunteers and distribute them during the coldest months in the city of Chicago. Every volunteer leaves with a bag of their own to distribute to someone in their community. Your village is the people we see every day, and supporting it starts with us.
#SupportYourVillage
Beautify
Block Clean-up
Saying 2020 was a year of change is an understatement. While the pandemic was a trying time for all of us, it hit the West and South Sides of Chicago pretty hard. And then the video of George Floyd was released. What happened to the small businesses in our community as a result spurred Village606 to action. As we joined the clean-up efforts we asked “can we do more?” Our #PickUpOnThePullUp events were born. Starting on Earth Day, and continuing through the Fall, we pick blocks on the Westside that can use some love and clean yards and empty lots. To clean your village is to respect your village.
#BeautifyYourVillage
Heal
Community Green Space
Our ultimate goal and the reason Village606 became a non-profit, is to purchase empty lots on Westside Chicago blocks and turn them into community green spaces. Our reasoning is two-fold; to house community grow gardens for food distribution and zen gardens for healing safe spaces; but, also to partner with mental health, health, and wellness organizations to provide a space for health & wellness classes and counseling. Our village is only strong when its members are healthy and productive. We are currently asking for donations towards the purchase of our first lot.
#HealYourVillage
#JoinYourVillage
We’re growing (and planning) please take your time to fill out our volunteer form so you can introduce you to our Community. You can also join our email list, it’s a great way to stay informed on all the things happening on Chicago’s Westside, as well as how #Village606 is helping.