Harkness Outreach Center, NFP, was established in 2001 to purchase, manage and operate Children’s Chapel and Harkness Hall so that the three important not-for-profit tenants housed there would not lose their affordable homes. The Board of Directors has spent much energy and many dollars on repairs and maintenance of the Children’s Chapel in order to preserve its use as a non-denominational chapel.
The Women's Exchange provides programs in a supportive environment for all women to share ideas and information - to learn, to grow, to build relationships, and to have fun. Its board members represent a variety of religious and community affiliations and serve all North Shore women as a community outreach of Winnetka Congregational Church.
Since its founding in 1983, the Women’s Exchange has grown to meet the needs of women, helping them ‘recharge their batteries’ in order to fulfill their multiple roles. WEX provides small groups for study and fellowship, planning programs on current topics of interest to women, and nurturing and highlighting the talents of local women.
HHC offers safe, dependable, nurturing child care in a developmentally appropriate setting for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. It is fully licensed by the State of Illinois and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as being a member of the Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood.
HHC provides a loving, nurturing, multi-cultural environment, with an anti-bias curriculum, in which children learn to respect themselves and others. The individuality of each child is valued, and Harkness House is enriched by the presence of children of many faiths and traditions. Harkness House does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, nationality, sex, ethnic origin, or religious belief in its admission, financial aid or other educational policies.
After meager beginnings, the "second Thursday in May" sale has been held consecutively every year since 1932. In recent years, a smaller sale has been added annually in mid-October. These sales are a massive recycling effort in which someone’s no longer needed items become someone else’s treasure, made available at affordable prices, with proceeds helping others in need. Hundreds of volunteers work at the sales and thousands of shoppers attend. It is truly a community, ecumenical effort. All net proceeds are donated to Chicago area social service agencies.
© 2008 Winnetka Chapel