On the West Side of Chicago, beneath the tracks near Chicago Avenue and Kedzie, at least 17 tents serve as home for a small unhoused community. This quiet truth moved us deeply — and it’s exactly why Holistic Choices Center launched our very first Holistic Wellness Drive for this area.

 

Our goal was to create, package, and deliver between 30 to 50 “Holistic Wellness Choice” bags filled with items to nourish, uplift, and affirm the wholeness in every soul — no matter their circumstance. Each bag included fresh deli sandwiches, fruit, bottled water, hygiene essentials like sanitizer, sanitary pads, tissues, wipes, and oral care items. To honor the spiritual side of healing, we also included two hand-picked crystals and a printed affirmation to speak life back into the spirit.

 

This was more than a give-back — it was a call to walk in alignment with the mission of HCC: to normalize healing and show up where it’s needed most. We invited our extended community to contribute and witness the impact, and the response was both humbling and empowering.

 

Our work continues, but this drive reminded us that healing isn't always inside a classroom, circle, or clinic. Sometimes, it’s outside — in the streets — where love, presence, and a bag of care can shift someone’s entire day.