Events &

Community Programs

See what's coming up, follow the build, and join Altera in action through the community events, education, and research-connected programs.

*Altera Circular Systems is coordinating this community initiative with Northbrook United Methodist Church, which is providing the collection site, tables, and volunteer coordination.

Altera Circular Systems' Wisconsin-based textile-materials research operates as a fiscally sponsored program of Embolden WI. Illinois community events, including the Northshore Community Clothing Drive, are not conducted under that fiscal sponsorship.

Download the Community Sharing Kit

Want to help invite your neighborhood, workplace, school, church, or community group?

Download our ready-to-use materials, including event flyers, social graphics, suggested captions, and newsletter copy.

What clothing are you accepting?

We welcome clean, gently used, wearable clothing, with a particular need for:

- Toddler clothing (size 4+), children's clothing (sizes 6–12), and teen clothing

- Warm jackets and winter coats

- Women's professional clothing

- Shoes and jewelry

- NEW, unused socks, underwear, and bras

Other clean, gently used clothing is welcome.

What condition should donations be in?

Please bring items that are clean, dry, wearable, free of strong odors, and ready for someone else to use.

If you wouldn't feel comfortable passing an item to a neighbor, please don't include it.

What should I not bring?

Please do not bring:

- Stained, ripped, dirty, threadbare, or heavily worn clothing

- Wet, moldy, or contaminated materials

- Furniture, toys, or books

- Used baby bottles, pacifiers, bottle nipples, nursing supplies, or other baby accessories

Items that do not meet the collection guidelines may be declined at drop-off.

Why can’t used baby bottles, pacifiers, and nipples be accepted?

For health and safety reasons, this clothing drive cannot accept used baby bottles, pacifiers, bottle nipples, nursing supplies, or baby accessories.

Please keep these items out of clothing donations. If these items are brought to the event, they may be declined or separated from clothing donations for alternate routing.

What if my clothing is too worn to donate?

This event is focused on donation-quality clothing only. Altera is exploring separate textile-recycling options, but no recycling collection service has been confirmed for this event.

Please keep worn-out textiles separate and seek an appropriate recycling route rather than placing them with wearable clothing donations.

Can businesses or organizations help promote the drive?

Yes. Businesses, churches, schools, libraries, neighborhood groups, workplaces, clubs, and community organizations are welcome to help spread the word.

You can help by:

- Sharing the event on social media

- Posting a flyer on a bulletin board

-Including the event in a newsletter

- Forwarding the event to your community

- Printing flyers for your location

A Community Sharing Kit is available below with flyers, captions, newsletter copy, and weekly post materials.

Where will the clothing go?

Northbrook United Methodist Church is serving as the collection location. Willow Creek Care Center will pick up the collected clothing, while Northbrook Rotary Club will receive the coats.

Will I receive a tax-deductible donation receipt?

Altera Circular Systems is not issuing charitable donation receipts for this event. Please do not assume a tax receipt will be available.

How does the drop-off work?

This is a drive-up clothing collection. Volunteers will help unload donations from vehicles during event hours.

Volunteer With Us

Help greet donors, unload clothing, sort items, or assist with event setup and cleanup.

Northbrook United Methodist Church is coordinating volunteers, with opportunities available in shifts from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Questions?

For questions about the clothing drive, contact: [email protected]

This is a community clothing collection, not a monetary fundraising campaign. Embolden WI is not the fiscal sponsor of this Illinois event.

Volunteer Sign-Up

Researching whether discarded and underused resources can become practical materials for a more resilient built future.

Five-Year Challenge: move from research question to a viable, documented prototype.

EXPLORE

Sponsor / Partner

FOLLOW US

For community. By community. With community. • Use what we have. Build what we need.
Altera Circular Systems is fiscally sponsored by Embolden WI (501(c)(3)). Donations are processed through the fiscal sponsor and may be tax-deductible as permitted by law.