Windy City Woodturners supports several outreach projects including
Empty Bowls - Working together with local organizations, club members turn and donate bowls and other turned artwork for one of two events each year. The first is typically held in the fall at the Batavia Boardwalk Shoppes (dates vary depending on availability of space at the venue). Any donations received in exchange for the artwork are given to local food related not for profits organizations including Northern Illinois Food Bank, Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Fox Valley Food for Life. The second Empty Bowls event takes place the first Saturday of December at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, IL - members of WCWT and Chicago Woodturners volunteer at the event sharing knowledge and helping to support the Ceramics Department students in selling bowls.
Pens for Troops - Working with the Chicago Woodturners members turn and donate pens to local veterans groups to be distributed to troops
Beads of Courage Boxes - Members support the efforts of the Chicago Woodturners by turning and donating boxes for local children going through life threatening medical issues. The boxes are used by the recipients to store the beads they collect while going through treatment (see BOC website for more information on this amazing program). Our boxes are currently being distributed through Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Wig Stands - WCWT members began turning Wig Stands in April of 2023 after the AAW's WIT committee proposed the project. WCWT members are turning wig stands and donating to Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources in Geneva, IL and Warrenville, IL. Living Well offers programs and services at no cost to anyone affected by or living with a cancer diagnosis regardless of where a person lives or receives medical treatment. The wig stands will be distributed to clients who receive free wigs. This is the newest outreach program WCWT supports. Instructions on how to turn wig stands can be found here.
Empty Bowls - Working together with local organizations, club members turn and donate bowls and other turned artwork for one of two events each year. The first is typically held in the fall at the Batavia Boardwalk Shoppes (dates vary depending on availability of space at the venue). Any donations received in exchange for the artwork are given to local food related not for profits organizations including Northern Illinois Food Bank, Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Fox Valley Food for Life. The second Empty Bowls event takes place the first Saturday of December at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, IL - members of WCWT and Chicago Woodturners volunteer at the event sharing knowledge and helping to support the Ceramics Department students in selling bowls.
Pens for Troops - Working with the Chicago Woodturners members turn and donate pens to local veterans groups to be distributed to troops
Beads of Courage Boxes - Members support the efforts of the Chicago Woodturners by turning and donating boxes for local children going through life threatening medical issues. The boxes are used by the recipients to store the beads they collect while going through treatment (see BOC website for more information on this amazing program). Our boxes are currently being distributed through Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Wig Stands - WCWT members began turning Wig Stands in April of 2023 after the AAW's WIT committee proposed the project. WCWT members are turning wig stands and donating to Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources in Geneva, IL and Warrenville, IL. Living Well offers programs and services at no cost to anyone affected by or living with a cancer diagnosis regardless of where a person lives or receives medical treatment. The wig stands will be distributed to clients who receive free wigs. This is the newest outreach program WCWT supports. Instructions on how to turn wig stands can be found here.