Hello friendly faces! It’s a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law.
Andrea Bialk is a woman of her word. The Glenview mom of two teens keeps the proverbial cup full, delighting in her work as a teacher at Marie Murphy Middle School, while carving out time and energy for her kids and the nonprofit she founded in 2017, Loving without Limits. The mission of Loving without Limits is simple but impactful: During the week of Mother’s Day, Loving without Limits visits children’s hospitals to share care bags and spend time with mothers and other caregivers who reside at the hospital with their child undergoing care or recovery. And this past Mother’s Day (2025) they report having delivered 700 care bags to 16 children’s hospitals across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Queue round of applause.
Andrea is ready to hit the ground running, gearing up for 2026. Get to know Andrea, why she started Loving without Limits and how you can participate in helping our fellow mamas feel seen during a time of great crises. Welcome, Andrea!
Hi Andrea! We are excited to introduce you to Chicago North Shore Moms. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
I was born and raised in Lincolnwood, Illinois. Currently, I live in Glenview, which has been a perfect place for me; it keeps me close to both my family and my work. My mom and both of my sisters live in Wilmette, so I love that I can see them often. I also teach at Marie Murphy Middle School, and living in Glenview makes for an easy commute. Being near the people I love and the job I enjoy means a lot to me.
And your kids…
My 13-year-old daughter has a beautiful voice and a heart full of passion for school and volleyball. My 10-year-old son lives and breathes sports, especially soccer and baseball. They are my whole world – bright, kind, and full of life. Every day, they inspire me to grow, to love more deeply, and to become the best version of myself – not just as a mom, but as a human being.
What are one or two fun facts, and/or important things to know about you?
I’m a proud first-generation Croatian, 100% through and through. My parents came to this country from Croatia at a young age, and from them, I learned the true meaning of hard work, resilience and gratitude. I’ve been a teacher for over 23 years, and I absolutely love working with children and giving back to the community by helping shape and inspire the next generation.
After hard work, what are a few spots you all enjoy?
Stefani Prime, Lincolnwood
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge, Lincolnwood
The Lawn, Wilmette
Ema Restaurant, Glenview
501 Local, Winnetka
Avli Greek, Winnetka
Hewn Bakery, Evanston or Hewn Outpost in Winnetka
Restore, Northbrook
Any good books on your nightstand?
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
The Way of Play by Tina Payne Bryson
Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about the Mel Robbins book – time to check it out! And what’s your personal mantra?
“Make the time for what makes your heart happy”
And that is the perfect segue to your nonprofit. Tell us more about Loving without Limits. What is it and who does it serve?
Loving without Limits began in 2017 as a simple act of kindness; an effort to support mothers spending Mother’s Day by their child’s hospital bedside. The inspiration came from three close family members who, at that time, were navigating the difficult journey of caring for a sick child. Witnessing their strength and vulnerability moved me to take action.
I reached out to local hospitals and organizations, asking for donations to create high-quality care bags filled with thoughtful essentials like toiletries, snacks, blankets, magazines, and gift cards. These bags were meant to offer a small comfort during an unimaginably hard time. The response was overwhelming. The care bags were so well received that I was invited to return the following year. With the encouragement of my community, I rolled up my sleeves and began the journey of establishing a nonprofit.
This past Mother’s Day (2025), we delivered over 700 care bags to 16 children’s hospitals across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. What started as one small gesture has grown into a mission to remind mothers they are seen, supported, and never alone. Loving without Limits has created the mission, “caring for those who care” and we are proud to share that mission to the world.
What resources are needed to provide your services?
Loving without Limits is always looking for funding or partnerships to support us in making each one of our care bags a high-end quality care bag. We continue to look for donations of body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, body wipes, deodorant, face wash, chapstick, mints, gum, snacks, treats, magazines and other items to bring some support and respite to the mothers/caregivers who reside in the hospital.
Now that Mother’s Day 2025 has just passed, what’s on the horizon for Loving without Limits?
Our goal is to start today in planning for Mother’s Day 2026. We will continue to network and connect with potential partnerships. We will hold our annual Loving without Limits kick-off to Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, March 1, 2026 for women to enjoy a morning of support and love while raising funds for our care bags. Our goal for next year is to create 1,000 care bags and deliver them to all accredited children’s hospitals in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio.
A beautiful act of kindness and no doubt you’ll achieve that goal! Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Loving without Limits?
Loving without Limits continues to create meaningful opportunities for our volunteers to visit mothers and caregivers at the bedside. While the COVID-19 pandemic made this more difficult, we’ve been slowly regaining access to hospitals. We believe deeply that the care bags are only part of the impact. Just as important is the brief but powerful moment we get to share love, compassion, and support with these incredible women. Sometimes, that heartfelt connection can mean more than anything in a time of struggle.
And how can our readers reach out to volunteer or donate or utilize your services?
We would love more volunteers and support. You can visit Loving without Limits at www.lovingwithoutlimits.org or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].
About Our Meet a Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
