It Feels Good to Give Back
Looking for ways to donate your extra time to a good cause this summer? There are plenty of organizations in the city that are in need of assistance.
Here are a few volunteer opportunities listed below. Get involved!
Help the Homeless
Greater Chicago Food Depository
4100 West Ann Lurie Place
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 247-3663
- Volunteer at the agency: Volunteers are needed at the pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. They are also looking for people to help prepare and serve meals, deliver food, and tutor.
- Help at the loading dock: Volunteers are needed on weekday mornings to load the food trucks. The Greater Chicago Food Depository ships more than 150,000 pounds of food every day.
- Volunteer to be a Driver: Volunteers are needed to drive and deliver fresh produce to agencies or to pick up the food drive food at local organizations.
- Help at Events: Help is needed for information tables and fundraising at events.
- Help at Food Shows: Volunteers are needed to help collect food donations from vendors after food industry trade shows.
- Help Repack Food: Volunteers are needed to repack bigger products to family size portions, assemble boxes and check expiration dates.
Lincoln Park Community Shelter
600 West Fullerton Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 540-6111
- Volunteer to Cook and Serve Meals
- Assist at the Front Desk
- Work an Overnight Shift: 9pm – 8am
- Teach a Track Activity: Teach a one-hour daily living skill class
- Volunteer for the Financial Literacy Program:
- Teachers: Responsible for teaching one of three 90-minute classes
- Mentors: Help guests with homework assignments from these classes
- Be a Job Coach: Help guests with mock interviews, resumes, cover letters, job searching or networking
- Be a Peer Coach: Work one-on-one with a guest to provide support and a listening ear
- Be a Computer Tutor: Assist guests with basic computer skills
Help Sick Children
640 North LaSalle Drive, Suite 280
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 602-9474
Every year, nearly 1,200 children in Illinois are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The Make-A-Wish foundation believes that granting wishes to these children is important for the care and treatment processes that they go through.
- Help at Make-A-Wish Events
- Be a Wish Granting Volunteer: These volunteers work in teams of two and meet with the families to plan and execute a child’s wish.
- Be a Speaker’s Bureau Volunteer: These volunteers will be trained to speak about the Make-A-Wish foundation at events.
- Be an Office Volunteer: Day to day office tasks
- Become a Committee Member Volunteer: Leadership roles
Help Homeless Animals
510 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 644-8338
Prepare animals for their forever families, help create lifelong bonds with pets and their potential families, and network with other animal lovers by volunteering.
- Join the Adoption Support Crew: These volunteers serve as greeters in the lobby, answer guest questions and follow-up with recent adopters.
- Volunteer for Everyday Assistance: These volunteers provide adoption assistance and care for the animals at the facility. They also help with grooming, spot-cleaning, adopter meetings and animal socialization.
- Volunteer for Cat & Dog Adopts: These volunteers handle cats and dogs for visitors, help people complete the adoption applications, and work in the cat & dog adoption rooms.
- Volunteer for Cat & Dog Care: These volunteers provide additional care by grooming and socializing the cats and dogs at the facility.
- Help at Special Events
Help Chicago Community Parks
Chicago Park District
541 North Fairbanks
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 742-7529
The Chicago Park District is always looking for volunteers to pitch in and help out in the city’s parks. There are volunteer opportunities for varied interests.
- Help with Corporate and/or Group Projects
- Volunteer on Environmental Stewardship Days
- Provide Special Event Support
- Provide Coaching & Sport Instruction
- Provide Conservatory Support
- Volunteer at Tutoring/ Mentoring After School Programs and Camps
- Volunteer for Community Gardening
- Help with Nature and Monitoring & Stewardship