3.5.2021

Dear Friends,

I hope you are holding strong as we continue our communal battle. As difficult as it’s been, I’ve been most grateful to see Chicago neighbors taking care of each other. It has helped to bring some light to this very long and dark tunnel we’ve been living in. This is truly why we were put on this earth and the depth of this experience will stay with us always.

Since Christmas, we have distributed over $25,000 in gift cards. Most recently, we are helping to stock many of the Love Fridges throughout the city. Please click here, or on the photo above to read the Chicago Tribune story about our work. The story will also appear in Sunday’s newspaper. Thanks to Heidi Stevens for helping us to share it and to the Swingin family for coordinating shopping!

We will be collecting gift cards as long is the need exists and would appreciate any you could send our way.

Direct Effect Charities
4044 N Lincoln Ave #400
Chicago, IL 60618

You can also make a donation through Zelle using our phone number 312.296.5311 or Venmo at direct-effect-charities We are able to get a discount if we purchase Jewel cards in bulk.

Because we have learned that the need is great, we are also collecting personal hygiene products, from tampons to toothpaste and everything in between. We are even happy to take your hotel soap, lotion and shampoo collection off of your hands! Maybe your company would like to do a Love Bag collection? Most everyone has a purse or tote that they do not need and we are happy to accept them filled with personal hygiene products. We will then distribute them through schools and women’s shelters who are greatly in need at this time. If you have a large collection, we are happy to arrange pick up. You can also drop off at our Lincoln address above. We would be grateful for your support of this program.

I’m sorry to say that my PillowTalk Kickstarter was unsuccessful, but we will still slowly start to put meditation into our schools. Our first will be Southside Occupational, where we will be sponsoring several classrooms. We are hoping that school will be fully open in the fall and we will then work to expand the program. There will also be the opportunity to sponsor classrooms and we will share more information on that soon!

On a personal note, I would like to ask you to please pay attention to your medical needs. I have not been doing this due to my low immunity and fear of the virus. I’ve recently discovered some issues that needed attention and am finally getting the care I need. If you have been doing something similar, I implore you to pay attention to your health and continue to get your regular check ups.

As always, I am grateful for you. It’s been uplifting to be able to help so many people, especially in the middle of a pandemic. I am so proud of all of us, our city, and the continued acts of love that encircle us. I wish I could share all of your kindnesses with the world.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime @ 312.296.5311 or via email here.

With Love and Gratitude,

Michelle DiGiacomo
Founder
Direct Effect Charities

PS We have resumed using our old email due to delivery issues with gmail. I hope this newsletter makes its way to you and that you share and forward it to those who might not receive it. Help us spread the word!

Donations can be made using Zelle with our phone number 312-296-5311 or Venmo @direct-effect-charities. Checks and gift cards can be mailed to;

Direct Effect Charities
4044 N Lincoln
#400
Chicago, IL. 60618

The Love Fridges by Ramon Norwood, feeding Chicago one family at a time!

“I ask myself, how did this happen?” Letterman said. “And I’ll tell you how it happened. It wasn’t because of me. It was because of hundreds and hundreds and perhaps thousands of people who helped me. And I would just like to say, we have to help each other or nothing will happen" One of life’s absolutely universal truths, he said, is the great feeling we get when we help other people. “If you help someone, in any way, big or small, automatically you will feel good about yourself.”

~David Letterman~

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4044 N Lincoln Ave #400
Chicago, IL | 60618 US

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