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Chicago Lights Chicago Lights partners with youth and adults to build brighter futures. Chicago Lights is the nonprofit at Fourth Presbyterian Church.

We believe every person deserves access to the resources they need to overcome systemic barriers so they can achieve their ambitions. Our programs grew from the church’s commitment to social justice and compassionate service, beginning with the founding of the Tutoring program in 1964. The commitment to education and literacy expanded and in 1991 gave rise to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which in 2004 was renamed Chicago Lights. Since the inception of Tutoring, we have served more than 60,000 people.

The countdown is on, as the growing season has almost run its course. There are only two Farm Stand Saturdays left this ...
10/22/2026

The countdown is on, as the growing season has almost run its course. There are only two Farm Stand Saturdays left this year, so come get your produce and flowers while you can. And, when you visit us this Saturday, October 24, bring the whole family to enjoy the fun of our Fall Festival at the Urban Farm. The Farm Stand is open 11 am to 3 pm, and the Fall Festival is from 12 pm to 3 pm.

Here’s what’s on the Farm Stand shopping list:
🫑🌶️ Bell, Italian, banana, jalapeno, lunchbox, shish*to, and poblano peppers
🍅Tomatoes and cherry tomatoes
🍆 Bok choy, eggplant, and scallions
🥬Collards, kale, and okra
🥕🫜Beets, turnips, and carrots
🌿Herbs - basil, cilantro, lavender, sage, and rosemary
💐 Flowers

10/22/2026

Thank you FHLBank Chicago for your partnership and helping us build brighter futures by supporting our Urban Farm. We appreciate all of you!

You can make a difference on your lunch hour! The Social Service Center is looking for volunteers to join our Outreach P...
10/20/2026

You can make a difference on your lunch hour! The Social Service Center is looking for volunteers to join our Outreach Program, an essential part of connecting our neighbors in need with food, essential supplies, and friendly support. Outings take place Tuesdays through Fridays at noon and last approximately 40–60 minutes. Volunteers and staff walk with a small, wheeled suitcase of supplies.

If you’d like to get some steps in and share kindness with your neighbors, sign up using the link in our bio or contact Program Manager La Rita Chatman at [email protected] to arrange a day and time. Thank you (in advance) for helping the Social Service Center make a difference in our community!

Here’s your chance to show off your Chicago Lights pride with one of these fabulous custom-designed tote bags! Teens in ...
10/18/2026

Here’s your chance to show off your Chicago Lights pride with one of these fabulous custom-designed tote bags! Teens in the Urban Farm’s Harvesting Futures program have created 15 unique bags, which will be raffled off today, Sunday, Oct. 18, during coffee hour at Fourth Church (126 E Chestnut). Just stop by the Harvesting Futures table after the 9:30 or 11 am services and register for a chance to win. Winners will be announced the following Sunday, but you need not be present to win. Good luck!

One week from today, come celebrate the season at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm. 🎃 The afternoon will feature all kinds ...
10/17/2026

One week from today, come celebrate the season at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm. 🎃 The afternoon will feature all kinds of family fun, including pumpkin painting, a haunted house, a bouncy house, face painting, s’mores, seasonal treats, and candy bags for kids.

This is a community-favorite event, and it’s the last one at our current location before the Farm makes a move in 2027, so please join us as we appreciate the Farm and all its volunteers, as well as celebrating our community.

The Fall Fest is free, and you’re invited—no matter who you are or where you live—so we hope to see you soon!

It’s going to feel like fall this weekend, so while you’re out for a stroll, come see us at the Urban Farm’s Farm Stand ...
10/16/2026

It’s going to feel like fall this weekend, so while you’re out for a stroll, come see us at the Urban Farm’s Farm Stand (444. W Chicago Ave.). 🍂🍁🍃 In addition to fresh produce and veggies, we’ll have beautiful bouquets available, perfect for gifting or brightening your own home.

This Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 am to 3 pm, you can find the following:
🫑🌶️ Bell, Italian, banana, jalapeno, lunchbox, shish*to, and poblano peppers
🍅Tomatoes and cherry tomatoes
🍆 Bok choy, eggplant, scallions, and okra
🥬Collards, kale, and lettuce
🥕🫜Beets, turnips, and carrots
🌿Herbs - basil, cilantro, lavender, sage, and rosemary
💐 Flowers

A big thank you to the volunteers from the McDonald's corporate office () who spent a day at the Urban Farm last week, p...
10/14/2026

A big thank you to the volunteers from the McDonald's corporate office () who spent a day at the Urban Farm last week, pruning, weeding, and prepping produce for the Farm Stand. These software engineers and designer definitely have green thumbs as well, and they left the Urban Farm in beautiful shape. We’re grateful to have so many supportive partners in the community. If you’d like to be one of them, visit the volunteer section of the Chicago Lights webpage to learn more!

🎉🎃🍁 Social Service Center staff members Kaitlyn Borcherding and Sheri Love, along with the rest of the Chicago Lights fa...
10/13/2026

🎉🎃🍁 Social Service Center staff members Kaitlyn Borcherding and Sheri Love, along with the rest of the Chicago Lights family, offer everyone a warm autumn welcome on this first day of the Social Service Center’s Living Room program for the season!

Presented in partnership with Northwestern Medicine, the Living Room serves as a daytime warming center and safe, friendly space for all who might need it during Chicago’s coldest months. Housed in Fourth Church’s Borwell Dining Room, the Living Room offers visitors games, activities, guest speakers, and snacks or just a quiet place to rest on Tuesday through Friday afternoons from mid-October through mid-April. And on Fridays, representatives from All Chicago's Coordinated Entry System () will be onsite to assist participants with housing resources.

Please visit the Chicago Lights website to support this and other projects of the Social Service Center!

10/12/2026

The best way to understand the impact of Harvesting Futures? Hear it from the teens themselves!

Meet Emma, Jay, Luka, and Edgar, who share what being part of the Farm Crew has meant to them. Hosted at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm in partnership with After School Matters (), Harvesting Futures is a job-readiness program that helps teens grow new skills, build confidence, and cultivate a brighter future. Thanks to these Chicago teens for sharing their stories with us!

10/09/2026

It always feels good to see Tutoring pairs back together, and this year has been no exception. 🥰 Our season is off to a great start, and there’s nothing like watching connections form and relationships build between students and their tutors through one-to-one time spent together each week. As Ms. Houston, Director of Tutoring, explains in this video, everyone deserves a mentor—and getting to know a caring adult can make a huge difference in the life of a child.

We are still welcoming volunteers, so it’s not too late to join us. Additional tutors will help us bring in students who are currently on the waitlist. If you have an evening to share one night a week, please visit the link in our bio to fill out a Tutoring application!

Address

126 E Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+13127874570

Website

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