Daily Herald opinion: Launch this season of giving by helping our Neighbors in Need

One organization provides 250,000 meals a day for those in need. A second helps domestic violence survivors with emergency housing and other life-changing resources. And a third offers assistance to low-income children in times of crisis.

These suburban-based organizations are among the five recipients of this year’s Daily Herald/Robert R. McCormick Foundation Neighbors in Need fundraising campaign.

Last year, the partnership awarded grants of more than $11,000 each to five charities that work with suburban residents facing critical issues related to hunger, health care inequality and homelessness.

Now, for the fourth year, the McCormick Foundation will contribute 50 cents for every dollar readers donate to this special project.

The five recipients, which will be showcased in Daily Herald stories in the coming weeks, are all on the front lines battling food insecurity and other issues affecting our suburban neighbors.

You likely have heard of some of these groups; others will be unfamiliar.

But they all need our help.

The five recipients this year are:

• Mother’s Trust Foundation provides immediate assistance to low-income children living in Lake County. The Lake Forest organization has assisted more than 50,000 children since 1998.

• The Elgin-based Centro de Informacion supports and empowers the Latino and immigrant community. The social services agency was established more than 50 years ago.

• The Northern Illinois Food Bank, based in Geneva, provides food programs across 13 counties in the region. The food bank celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

• The WINGS Program offers emergency housing, counseling, advocacy and other services to domestic violence survivors. The organization, with shelters across the suburbs, was started in 1985.

• The Outreach House in Lombard assists its clients with a food pantry, infant needs, emergency expenses and clothing. Created in 2003, Outreach House moved into a new building two years ago to bring all its services under one roof.

Together, these organizations make sure suburbanites in crisis have what so many of us are lucky enough to take for granted: a healthy meal, a safe place to stay and a warm coat when winter sets in.

They cannot do it alone, however, and that’s where this important campaign comes in.

Over the next few weeks, our reporters will help you learn more about these local organizations and the work they do. They will share stats, stories and so much more. Please take the time to learn about what each of these organizations, and their amazing volunteers, contribute to life in the suburbs.

Then, we hope, you will join them in their missions to help those who need it most.

To donate to Neighbors in Need, visit dailyherald.com/neighbors. Remember, your generosity will be multiplied thanks to the McCormick Foundation. And your kindness will not be forgotten.

We are entering the season of giving. Helping our suburban neighbors is the perfect place to start.