Activities with Agency Clients

People Served/Type of Services: Education/Child and Adolescent Development, Children

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Groups of volunteers participate in WeROCK (We Reach Out to Chicago’s Kids) throughout the school year. They spend a class period with 2nd–3rd graders presenting and then doing a simple project with the children developed by JPA. For example, groups have presented about young entrepreneurs and then helped the children think of and draw their own business ideas. The children then present their ideas to the class. We usually arrange to have 2–3 classrooms for each WeROCK, with 4–5 volunteers per classroom. The classrooms are located in the schools and neighborhoods JPA serves through its programs, and at least one JPA staff person is part of the group. Sometimes WeROCK sessions involve reading to/with the children.

Location: Chicago-West Loop

Volunteer Ages: Young Adults, Adults, Groups

Frequency: One-time or more

Frequency Details: We arrange WeROCK sessions based on classroom and volunteers’ schedules. Some groups have done WeROCK more than once in different schools.

Contact Info: Staff: Selma Walker, Organizer, 312-440-1203

Other Information: WeROCK has proven very enjoyable for all participants, who get to meet some great children from neighborhoods that are usually portrayed negatively. They are lively, eager, full of ideas (edible school supplies, for example!), and enjoy meeting and working with the WeROCK volunteers. Total time commitment (not including travel to the site) is about 2 hours per session. We meet beforehand to review the presentation, we have about 45–55 minutes with the children, and then meet briefly afterwards to share reactions, observations, etc.

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Homelessness

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients, Food Preparation and distribution

Service Opportunity Details: Volunteers needed to help host Host homeless families at one of the north shore congregations. This is perfect for families with children at home. It also works very well with couples (friends or sharing the same house). This includes welcoming the guests as they arrive for their evening. Providing dinner and sharing with the guests. If you have children they can play with or read to the guest children after dinner. It is a wonderful experience. Doing God’s work no more than 20 minutes from home. See the video of Kenilworth Union Church families reporting on their experience on the kuc.org look for Family Promise.

Location: Various North Shore communities

Volunteer Ages: Families with young children, Families with teens, Young Adults, Adults

Frequency: One-time, periodic

Frequency Details: This commitment can be for one evening and require as little as 2 hours of time. Scheduled in advance.

Contact Info: Liaison and Board Chair: Richard Day, 847 722 4714

Other Information:

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Homelessness, Domestic Abuse

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Safe House Lobby Volunteer: The WINGS domestic violence Safe House has capacity for up to 45 adults and children a night. Responsibilities for this position include: ensuring the safety of the Safe House by allowing only appropriate people to enter, utilizing the intercom and camera systems to confirm identities; interacting with clients as they come in and out of the shelter and Safe House; assisting clients with basic daily living skills; explaining the basic Safe House policies and procedures to clients; other duties assigned based on volunteer interest and current shelter needs.

Location:

Volunteer Ages: Adults

Frequency: On-going

Frequency Details: One time a week for 3- 4 hours, between 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Requires willingness to commit to a weekly shift for at least one year.

Contact Info: Staff: Bruna Srb, Kenilworth Union: If interested in this opportunity, you can also contact Chris Cole, to get more detailed information about whether this may be a good fit for you.

Other Information: Requirements: Completion of the 40 Hour Domestic Violence Training provided by WINGS three times a year; A commitment to keep the location confidential; Any personal experience with domestic violence should be more than two years prior to applying for this volunteer opportunity.

People Served/Type of Services: Life Transition Support, Refugee Resettlement

Types of Help Needed: Family Support, Activities with Agency Clients, Interpreting

Service Opportunity Details: RefugeeOne seeks short-notice volunteers and interpreters. Short-notice volunteers assist RefugeeOne staff and clients by providing transportation to medical appointments, job interviews, or in-office meetings. Volunteers also assist with other miscellaneous needs such as helping refugee families move, setting up apartments, receiving and organizing in-kind donations, and showing newly arrived refugees how to use public transportation, access the bank, and more. Volunteers are called on an as-needed basis. Flexible day-time availability and a car is helpful, but not required. Volunteers with language skills are highly encouraged to apply.

Location: Chicago-North Side

Volunteer Ages: Young adults, Adults

Frequency: Periodic

Frequency Details: Short-notice volunteers are called on an as-needed basis to see if they are available to support. Volunteers may be contacted as often as once per week or only every few months depending on the need.

Contact Info: Staff: James Corliss, Volunteer Coordinator, volunteers can apply online through Refugee One’s website

Other Information: A volunteer orientation and background check is required for all volunteers. Volunteers must be 18 years or older or accompanied by an adult.

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Food Insecurity

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: There are opportunities for planting, harvesting and producing food in green spaces.

Location: Chicago-Rogers Park (delivery location)

Volunteer Ages: Families with teens, Teens, Young adults, Adults, Groups

Frequency: Periodic

Frequency Details:

Contact Info: Staff: Maggie Williams 773-262-2297, ext. 23;

Other Information:

People Served/Type of Services: Life Transition Support, Adult Job Readiness

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Cara welcomes members of Kenilworth Union Church to participate in a service day with Cara. Activities often include sorting through Cara’s clothing room, or conducting mock interviews with participants. We have also conducted speed networking sessions with service groups—similar to speed dating—where participants get to share resumes, career goals, and interests in a rapid-fire setting. For those who are comfortable with public speaking and fielding questions, volunteers who work in various professional industries can share their knowledge and professional backgrounds with participants through an arranged speaker panel.

Location: Chicago-West Loop

Volunteer Ages: Adults Groups

Frequency: One-time

Frequency Details: Cara offers several one-time opportunities. We encourage guests to start with Motivations, Cara’s unique morning activity, from 8:25-9:00am, followed by a quick tour of Cara’s Downtown Campus. The day would conclude with the group activity, typically ending by noon. Date would be mutually agreed upon.

Contact Info: Staff: Audrianne Coffer, Individual Engagement Manaer, 312-798-3321

Other Information:  This would be an appropriate activity for a smaller volunteer group of three-seven.

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Homelessness, Domestic Abuse

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Safe House Hostess: The WINGS domestic violence Safe House has capacity for up to 45 adults and children a night. In addition to shelter, it provides counseling, case management, referrals, career
services, and meals. Hostesses will assist in this effort by warming up, setting out, and putting away a previously prepared lunch for anyone in the house. Volunteers are encouraged to eat with the residents and to promote constructive and friendly conversations with and between the residents who are there. They also help the clients with their daily tasks, including checking and signing off on the chore chart, filling requests for needed items from the supply closet, etc. Volunteers also promote constructive conversation and a positive environment by lending a
listening ear to someone who wants to talk, engaging more hesitant residents in conversation to help them feel welcomed and comfortable, even suggesting or facilitating simple activities to adults or parents trying to entertain children.

Location: Northwestern suburban Chicago and Midway Airport areas in WINGS Domestic Violence Safe Houses

Volunteer Ages: Adults

Frequency: On-going

Frequency Details: One time a week for a few hours. Requires willingness to commit to a weekly shift for at least one (1) year. Advance notice is requested in the event of a cancellation so we can schedule a substitute.

Contact Info: Staff: Bruna Srb, Kenilworth Union: If interested in this opportunity, you can also contact Chris Cole, to get more detailed information about whether this may be a good fit for you.

Other Information: Requirements: Completion of the 40 Hour Domestic Violence Training provided by WINGS 3 times a year; A committment to keep the location confidential; Any personal experience with domestic violence should be more than two (2) years prior to applying for this volunteer opportunity.

People Served/Type of Services: Education/Child and Adolescent Development, Children

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Kenilworth Union volunteers have the opportunity to volunteer at one of Urban Initiatives’ Work to Play game days. UI’s Work to Play program is its health and education elementary school program. Work to Play runs in two separate seasons, one in the fall (October to December) and one in the spring (March to May). Each Friday, students from various schools are bused to a central location to participate in game days where they can play soccer in a group setting. Volunteers are needed to help referee games, coach students, and manage field rotations. This is a very fun and casual setting and no soccer experience is needed. We just like to have volunteers join our game days to provide a supportive and fun environment for students.

Location: Chicago

Volunteer Ages: Young adults, Adults, Groups

Frequency: One-time

Frequency Details: Typically, game days run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Fridays.

Contact Info: Staff: Taryne Moore, Development Coordinator of Corporate Relationships, 925-918-3342

Other Information:

People Served/Type of Services: Life Transition Support, Support for formerly incarcerated individuals

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Field Trip Coordinator: This volunteer would contact various cultural and educational organizations in Chicago to arrange for complimentary tickets for St. Leonard’s residents. The coordinator would coordinate dates for the field trips with St. Leonard’s staff, and communicate the upcoming events to St. Leonard’s residents. Field Trip Chaperone: Single volunteers or groups of volunteers would attend various field trips with St. Leonard’s residents to cultural and educational organizations in Chicago. The volunteer would travel in St. Leonard’s vehicles or provide their vehicle for transportation, and would serve as a point of contact for residents at the venue. This could also include participating in sports-related field trips, such as a softball or basketball game.

Location: Chicago-Near West Side

Volunteer Ages: Families with teens, Young Adults, Adults, Groups

Frequency: One-time, On-going, Periodic

Frequency Details: Field Trip Coordinator: This would be a weekly commitment of a few hours every week for 3-6 months. Can mostly be done telecommuting. Field Trip Chaperone: This would be either an ongoing commitment for 3 months for field trips, or a one-time experience.

Contact Info: Staff: Volunteer Coordinator, 312-780-3196

Other Information: St. Leonard’s volunteers often remark that they receive more from the experience than they give. We invite you to experience this first-hand.

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Food Insecurity, Domestic Abuse, Homelessness

Types of Help Needed: Administrative/Office Support, Activities w/Agency Clients

Service Opportunity Details: Front desk assistant: This volunteer position is responsible for supporting Sarah’s Circle program staff members at the front desk in either the Daytime Support Center or Interim Housing programs. This role provides key programmatic support and directly supports women facing homelessness or in need of a safe space. Responsibilities include: Greet all incoming visitors; Inform new clients about available services, using the Daytime Support Center Brochure; Answer telephones and redirect calls as appropriate; Control entrance access; Distribute toiletries and other resources to clients; Assist women who are in need of services from other agencies, using the Community Resource Brochure; Help maintain a calm and welcoming atmosphere; Assist women with laundry.

Location: Chicago-North Side

Volunteer Ages: Adults

Frequency: On-going

Frequency Details: Weekly time commitment of 3-4 hours. Minimum 3 months required. Daytime Center volunteers needed Monday through Friday during business hours. Interim Housing Volunteers needed anytime including evenings and weekends.

Contact Info: Staff: Dakota Chisholm, Volunteer Coordinator, 773-728-1014 ext. 314

Other Information: Volunteers must attend an orientation training session and agree to Sarah’s Circle’s volunteer guidelines and policies.