VOLUNTEEr

Aging Care Connections

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Aging Care Connections. Only with a dedicated group of volunteers can we offer a range of programs and services every month to the more than 9,000 individuals and families we serve each year. Volunteering is a source of great satisfaction for those who participate. The following are volunteer positions available at the Aging Care Connections Office (111 W Harris Ave La Grange) with brief descriptions:

Front Desk Volunteer: We are looking for front desk volunteers to join us at Aging Care Connections! Our staff relies on volunteers to help us serve over 8,000 older adults and their families each year.

Under the supervision of the Office Manager, you will:

• Answer phones and transfer calls
• Greet and help guests walking into the organization
• Make appointments
• Be very reliable and able to commit to a weekly schedule

Qualifications:
Good communication skills
Patience, as we work with older people and people with disabilities over the phone and in person.
Outgoing
Work well with others

Schedule:
Monday afternoon: 12:30 to 4:30PM
Wednesday – 8:30AM to 4:30PM
Thursday mornings: 8:30AM to 12:30PM

BedsPlus – 4 hours a month!

The Linda Sokol Francis Summit Service Center Medical Respite will need volunteers to fill in the gaps of care for the residents of the center.

Volunteers will work to serve meals (using food provided), clean up, do activities with clients and sort in-kind donations. Volunteers 12-17 years old are welcome with an adult chaperone ratio of 1:1. There are three weekday shifts and two weekend shift times.

If you’re interested, please contact Pam at mcdonald@beds-plus.org.

Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Breakthrough partners with people to build connections, develop skills, and open doors of opportunity through comprehensive programs in Chicago’s Garfield Park community. For more information about volunteer opportunities, click below.

Center for Independence Through Conductive Education

Ongoing:

• Grounds cleanup, around building and in playground area
• Assorted mailings requiring stuffing, sealing, labeling, stamping of envelopes or newsletters
• Sewing/upkeep of therapeutic supplies (such as rolling mats, bean bags, etc.)
• Organize/plan craft projects for children with physical disabilities Seasonal

Seasonal:

• Lemonade stand volunteers in the summer
• Beginning and end of summer deep cleaning
• Assemble silent auction baskets or other fundraiser decorations (usually September)

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Samantha Bondi.

Community Assisted Rides

ATTENTION: Drivers! If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer driver, we provide all training and have very flexible scheduling, so you can volunteer when it works for you! Please call the Community Assisted Rides office at (708) 354-9328 for complete details and a volunteer application.

CommUnity Diversity Group of La Grange Area

The CommUNITY Diversity Group of the La Grange Area (CDG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in government, civic and cultural life so that everyone in our community is represented and heard. We seek to provide opportunities for learning and growing together. Our tagline is
Advocating equity for all!

The CommUNITY Diversity Group (CDG) Arts Committee was formed to use art to build relationships with community participation.

Companions Journeying Together

• Board Member:  First Congregational has been so supportive of us.  We would welcome one of your congregants to join our board.  We have monthly virtual meetings and are a working board.
• Financial person who would serve on a committee to help with budgeting, overhauling our financial reports.
• People to help start a pen pal club at First Congregational.  It can be very helpful for prisoners to be in correspondence with people in the free world.
• Someone with space in their garage to collect donated books, greeting cards and other supplies until we can retrieve them. Western Springs is often a central point between people who have materials to donate to us and our staff and volunteers who utilize those materials.
• Someone to help prepare mailings for Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project.  Our volunteers who have been inside a facility would bring you the books and recorders from one Aunt Mary’s Storybook Session a month.  You would download the recordings onto virtual links, which would be sent to the caregivers of the children whose parents are sending books and recordings, then take them to the post office. You would not have to front the cost of postage.
• Join our Events Planning Committee to plan and execute fundraising events.

Gifts of Hope Alternative Market

December 8, 9:30AM–12:30PM
Plymouth Hall

Gifts of Hope is an Alternative Gift Market where we join in fellowship and have the opportunity to make a contribution to our Mission Partners. The gifts we buy help the organizations secure supplies and support the services they provide. Purchase gifts in the name of your friends, family, colleagues, clients, etc. A special card will be available to download and print for each of your recipients.

This year (2024), purchases will be matched up to $10,000 through a donation from Mary Jo Mulcahy.

To download a copy of the Shopping Wish List purchase form, click below:

NAMI Metro Suburban

NAMI Metro Suburban offers numerous volunteer opportunities.
We welcome kind, passionate and responsible people looking to join our community of support. Our volunteer program features service positions with a variety of flexible hours to choose.

Volunteer opportunities include:
Drop-In Center volunteer positions, Education volunteer positions, event volunteers, greeters, support group volunteers, marketing materials design, translation, flyer distribution, phone call making, photography, blog writing, public presentations, and more.

Contact Sean O’Connor by email or call 708-524-2582 ext. 102.

New Moms

New Moms believes in the strength, skills, and potential of young moms.

The Night Ministry

The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization whose mission is to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to members of our community who are unhoused or experiencing poverty.

DIRECT SERVICE:
Provide hospitality and build caring relationships with guests of our Health Outreach Bus, share your time with teens and young adults at our Open Door Shelter — West Town, or connect with young people at The Crib, our LGBTQ-friendly overnight shelter.

SERVICE EVENTS:
The Night Ministry has a variety of service projects that sustain our programs including sorting donations and preparing outreach kits at our Service Saturday events. Lend your support and skills with mailings, research, and other projects at our administrative office.

PREPARE A MEAL:
Prepare and serve meals for our Health Outreach Bus and Youth Outreach Team. Provide meals for our CTA Outreach Teams. Or bring and serve breakfast or dinner to young adults at The Crib, our overnight emergency shelter.

For involvement inquiries and other questions please contact Andrew Hart, Volunteering Coordinator, by email or call 773-506-6033.

Off the Street Club

Founded in 1900, Off The Street Club is Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club. We currently serve more than 3,000 kids in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country, West Garfield Park. We are grateful to all our supporters, including the Chicago advertising, marketing and media community.

We are a place where kids can truly find hope. Every child seeking a safe place to go is welcome to join us for games, play and mentorship.

Just like friends, we can never have enough volunteers. Check out the many ways we can use your time at Off The Street Club.

Plymouth Place

Volunteers Make a Difference

Volunteers are trained to supplement life enrichment activities in the Healthcare Center, Memory Care, and Assisted Living residences. Giving one’s time in this way provides residents with friendship and conversation, as well as a feeling of well-being and contentment! In return, volunteers will reap these same gifts and more!

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Provide assistance with Special Events.
• Visit residents’ rooms to read, listen to music, and engage in conversation.
• Accompany and transport residents to in-house events.
• Assist in music, dance, arts and crafts activities and games.
• Use one’s computer skills to assist residents with cell phones, tablets, and PCs.
• Help maintain the upper-level gardens.
• Facilitate current events and book discussions.
• Assist in the Marketplace gift shop.

For more information on joining our volunteer program, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kathleen Jurek by phone at (708) 205-0039 or by email.

Rummage

Our semi-annual all-church Rummage Sales are Woman’s Society’s largest undertakings. Sales of the proportion to which these have grown wouldn’t be possible without the generous support and involvement of all of our church members. Over 250 people come together each October and April to help Woman’s Society. Sale profits are then shared with non-profit agencies close to home and around the world as well as the First Congregational Church of Western Springs.

For more information on our semi-annual Rummage Sales, please click below: