LYDIA Home

LYDIA Home At a time when our culture often seems to be coming apart, LYDIA is helping put families back together. Hope is a future. (Acts 16:14-15)

LYDIA provides Hope, Healing and Home to children in foster care. Lydia empowers kids exposed to trauma to believe in a brighter tomorrow. Healing is the restoration of God-given dignity. Lydia provides an integrated, holistic approach to help children recover from the emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse they’ve endured. Home is finding a child's forever family. For those who live at Lydia, ho

me means a safe and nurturing environment for them to grow. LYDIA Home Association is a Christian, non-profit organization that has been serving children in Chicago since 1916. Our mission is to strengthen families to care for children and to care for children when families cannot. Our programs are meant to both serve youth in care and be a blessing to our local community. LYDIA Home Association was named after a woman in the Bible recorded in the book of Acts. The woman, Lydia, was a faithful, Godly woman who opened her home to those who needed shelter.

Planning to attend the Chicago Cubs game on Wednesday, September 2nd? Join us!! The Happ Foundation is teaming up with L...
08/28/2026

Planning to attend the Chicago Cubs game on Wednesday, September 2nd? Join us!!

The Happ Foundation is teaming up with Lydia Home to help us build our new playground! Details in the image!

If you can't make it to the game but still want to be a part of the fun, you can make an impact and donate at the link below! Donate $150 or more and receive an autographed Ian Happ photo mailed directly to you! ⚾

Every dollar helps us in getting one step closer to our playground for the kids!

🛝— https://www.happfoundation.org/donate

The kids have been busy squeezing, stirring and making fresh lemonade and they’re ready to serve YOU! 🍋☀️ If you don’t s...
08/13/2026

The kids have been busy squeezing, stirring and making fresh lemonade and they’re ready to serve YOU! 🍋

☀️ If you don’t see us outside on Friday, 8/14…☔ COME JOIN US INSIDE!

Every cup helps bring us one step closer to making a new playground a reality for the children at Lydia Home. Come grab a cup from 11am-3pm and support Lydia—rain or shine!

📍 1101 Washington St, Evanston, IL 60202

08/10/2026

A little rain can’t stop us from making our new playground a reality! ☔🍋 Due to the weather on Tuesday, 8/11, Lemonade for Lydia has been rescheduled to Friday, August 14th from 11am-3pm!

Join us Friday for a refreshing cup of lemonade and help us raise the remaining funds needed to create a safe, therapeutic place to play from Play Illinois for the children at Lydia Home.

📍 Lydia Home Stand: 1101 Washington St

Watch the video to hear what they’re wishing for. 🛝💜

Can’t make it? Help bring their dream playground to life: https://playgroundforthekids.funraise.org

A legacy isn’t built overnight—it’s built one child, one conversation, and one act of compassion at a time. For 48 years...
07/16/2026

A legacy isn’t built overnight—it’s built one child, one conversation, and one act of compassion at a time. For 48 years, Melvyn has been that steady presence for children at Lydia Home.

While his years of service are remarkable, it’s the relationships he’s nurtured that truly define his impact. Former residents still return to visit him, some now with children of their own, a powerful testament to the lasting influence of his care.

“Everything you do with these kids stays with them. You can become part of their good memories, or you can become part of something else. Which one would you rather be?”

As we celebrate 110 years of Lydia Home, we’re especially grateful for people like Melvyn, whose kindness, wisdom, and unwavering dedication have helped shape our legacy of hope for generations.

Thank you, Melvyn, for the countless lives you’ve touched and for reminding us that the greatest impact is measured in the lives we change. 💜

06/16/2026

What an incredible day at our 4th Annual Footsteps for Families Fun Run! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♂️💙💚💜

Today we gathered with families, church partners, supporters, volunteers, and community members to celebrate, run, laugh, and make a difference for children and families in our community. From our 1-Mile Fun Run to carnival games, DJ, snow cones, hot dogs, and so much more, every smile and every step helped support the mission of serving vulnerable children and strengthening families.

As we celebrated Lydia Home’s 110-Year Anniversary, we were reminded that generations of impact are only possible because of faithful supporters like YOU. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, donated, and cheered us on throughout the day!

A special thank you to our amazing sponsors:
⭐ Jose Gomez with Allstate
⭐ PCMI – Your Technology Partner
⭐ U.S. Foods
⭐ Closets by Design (Paul Ridsdale)
⭐ Athletico Physical Therapy
⭐ Smilin' Clyde's Hot Dogs
⭐ Invest With Purpose LLC (IWP)
⭐ Cityview Community Church
⭐ The Shannon Family
⭐ The Hogan Family
⭐️ Chicago Angels
⭐️ Pastries with a Purpose
⭐️ The Merugu Family
⭐️ Snowie Shaved Ice Delights

Thank you for helping us take more steps toward hope, healing, and stronger families.

And what about our Top Fundraising Teams?!

🏅Lydia / Safe Families Associate Board
🏅Grace Church
🏅Cityview Church
🏅 Finish Strong (Kristi Ryken team)

We couldn’t have done it without you!

06/03/2026

📣 Our BIG event day is almost here, don't forget to register! 🎉 We're also looking for volunteers to help with:

- Packing t-shirts & awards on June 11th at LYDIA Home! 3 volunteers needed!
- Handing out water bottles and ice pops, 2 volunteers needed!
- Giving prizes to top teams, 1 volunteer needed!
- Running the activities station, 1 volunteer needed!

Sign up here: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/117714/footsteps-for-families 🏃🏾☀️🏃🏽‍♀️

🚨Footsteps for Families 2026 is just around the corner! Come hang out with us and the kids to celebrate!!Take steps with...
05/28/2026

🚨Footsteps for Families 2026 is just around the corner! Come hang out with us and the kids to celebrate!!

Take steps with Safe Families & LYDIA Home on Saturday, June 13th for our 4th Annual Footsteps for Families 1-Mile Fun Run & Family Fun Day celebrating LYDIA’s 110th Anniversary from 10am-1pm. Featuring music, food, games, activities, and fun for all ages! ☀️ 🎉

Register and create your team today:
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/117714/footsteps-for-families

Reflecting on what a wonderful event it was with Barb Clark this month for our FASD training "Innovative Strategies for ...
05/28/2026

Reflecting on what a wonderful event it was with Barb Clark this month for our FASD training "Innovative Strategies for Complex Behaviors" -- As Barb put it, "There are so many amazing humans out there showing up every day for kids and families in beautiful, exhausting, imperfect, hopeful ways" and we could not agree more! Thank you to all who attended!

WE’RE HIRING!Join us at our Evanston Hiring Event! We’ll be conducting interviews and hiring qualified candidates on the...
05/24/2026

WE’RE HIRING!
Join us at our Evanston Hiring Event! We’ll be conducting interviews and hiring qualified candidates on the spot.

📍 1101 Washington St, Evanston, IL 60202
📅 Thursday, May 28 & Friday, May 29
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Scan the QR code in the flyer or click the link below to register: https://forms.gle/HaZprbEiJfBCrHBZ9

Piece by piece you're helping to build our playground! 🧩🧩​You all showed up last week as we announced our playground puz...
05/18/2026

Piece by piece you're helping to build our playground! 🧩🧩
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You all showed up last week as we announced our playground puzzle campaign and made a wonderful impact to get the board started!
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All claimed pieces are updated and if you'd like to contribute, please comment your piece below and donate at the link in the comments! (You can also leave a comment when you donate with your numbers you'd like to fill!) If you are unable to donate, please share with a friend, a group, share it on your page and ask them to contribute.
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Every dollar counts...
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This playground isn't a simple thing for our kids, it is a place they get to imagine, play, let out energy, exercise, and truly feel like a "kid". The current playground has sections that are no longer usable, and we have so much hope we can complete this puzzle to build them a new one.
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Thank you for sharing, giving, and taking the time to make our kids a priority in your life.

Address

4300 W Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL
60641

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17733555577

Website

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