Opportunities to Volunteer in our Community
In the spirit of Christian efforts to support our fellow man, there are several local and regional organizations that provide an array of very worthwhile volunteer opportunities. Not an exhaustive list. There are dozens of opportunities. Please consider, you have a great opportunity to make an impact.
Immaculate Conception Parish
- Daybreak of Elmhurst. A transitional housing service focusing on single women with children under 18 that are either homeless, in her parent’s basement or couch surfing with friends. Daybreak provides these women with a safe apartment for up to 2 years rent free and provides 2 mentors to provide guidance to develop skills that enable them personal and financial independence: paying off debt, increasing savings. There are processes and materials available that have been developed over years and training to gain comfort to be a mentor. You will initially be paired with experienced mentors until you feel comfortable with your own clients.
- 3 hours/month, running October through April. Donate food, cook or help staff on one or more shifts. At the PADS site at the Salvation Army location in Oak Brook Terrace. Shifts are 3 hours and can cover dinner, nighttime, overnight or breakfast.
- Other opportunities: https://www.icelmhurst.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180030931&sec_id=180009446
Catholic Charities, Joliet Diosese
- Hope House, Villa Park. Homeless shelter for nine medium-term (about 3-4 months clients. Opportunities to cook and serve meals to residents, sort food donations, outdoor landscaping.
- Transporting furniture, either using your own truck or as part of a moving team. Typically, from donor’s homes to transitional housing family members or other furniture banks.
- They also need volunteers for light office work at their Downers Grove offices.
Sharing Connections, Furniture bank in Downers Grove. Work with several human service agencies and non-profits throughout DuPage County. Helping clients furnish usually their first apartment for their families. https://createthegood.aarp.org/opportunity-details.135696/
Compudot, Downers Grove. Provides volunteer opportunities to provide technical assistance and education to under-resourced youth and their communities. https://createthegood.aarp.org/opportunity-details.158806/
Packages4Patriots, Elk Grove Village. Packages4Patriots seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm's way. You can help our effort by 1. Supplying us with names and addresses of deployed soldiers, 2. Writing letters to soldiers to include in our care packages, 3. Contributing items for the care packages, and 4. Helping pack the items at our monthly packing events.
AARP Data Base of Volunteering Opportunities, Chicagoland area. https://www.aarp.org/volunteer/info-2020/aarp-volunteer-portal-faqs.html
The Neighborhood Bridge, Oak Park. Needing advocates that can connect parents with children in the 4 Catholic Grade Schools and one Charter School in the Oak Park/Austin neighborhood to essential human services to help change their lives. A relatively new non-profit, established by a mandate from Cardinal Blase J. Cupich to increase the engagement and support with those that reside in the Austin neighborhood. https://theneighborhoodbridge.org/
360 Youth Services. They provide life-changing services to youth through substance use prevention education, counselling and housing. They provide youth skills necessary to successfully navigate life’s challenges. There are dozens of opportunities to volunteer including tutoring and mentoring. https://360youthservices.org