Volunteer Listings

Volunteers To submit a listing, e-mail tricity@dailyherald.com.

Literacy Volunteers Fox ValleyÅ’will hold training sessions in July for people who want to help adults read, write and speak English more effectively. The six-session training will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. beginning July 23 at the St. Charles Public Library. Training materials are provided free of charge. The sessions will help volunteers understand how adult students are evaluated and how to plan lessons based on their language needs and goals. Volunteers do not need to know a second language or have a background in education to help. Each volunteer will be matched with an adult who lives or works in St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia or Elburn and meet with the student one hour each week. Volunteers can tutor morning, afternoon or evening as their schedule allows. Many tutoring locations are available including the St. Charles Public Library, Batavia Public Library, Pheasant Run Resort, Town & Country Public Library in Elburn and St. Charles schools. Staff members provide ongoing tutor support. Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley is based at the St. Charles Public Library. Its mission is to help individuals in the region acquire and validate the literacy skills that they need to function more effectively in contemporary U.S. society. Through trained volunteers and organizational staff, they offer free, one-to-one tutoring focusing on reading, writing and speaking in English. To register for training, call (630) 584-2811 or visit www.lvfv.org.

Batavia RSVP: Regular monthly meetings at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln Ave. in Batavia.

Batavia RSVP needs drivers to help seniors get to appointments and do errands such as grocery shopping and banking.

Batavia RSVP also accepts cash donations for the Medical Assistance Program and other programs such as meal delivery, smoke detector installation, and transportation for appointments. Any qualifying senior may apply for financial assistance through the office.

For assistance, or for information on volunteering, call (630) 406-9993 between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Kane County Forest Preserve District: Join a Kane County Forest Preserve District volunteer steward at a workday this month and help preserve, protect and restore the natural resources of Kane County.

The forest preserve district seeks volunteers for restoration projects, to do educational programs at Tekakwitha Woods, cultural preservation and interpretation at Fabyan Forest Preserve, and to serve as docents at the Fabyan Windmill.

For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Julia Bourque at (847) 741-9798 or at bourquej.kcfpd@earthlink.net.

Blazing Prairie Stars: Blazing Prairie Stars, a therapy farm at 47W635 Beith Road in Maple Park, is looking for volunteers who have experience with horses and enjoy working with children.

Blazing Prairie Stars provides horse-assisted therapy and other programs in the natural environment for children who have disabilities. Volunteers are needed to serve as horse leaders and sidewalkers during therapy sessions. In addition, volunteers can help with grooming, tacking and other barn chores.

Call Jennifer or Debi at (630) 365-5550 to register for training.

Sugar Grove Public Library: The library has jobs for volunteers 14 and older. Volunteers can offer time once or as an ongoing donation. The library offers new volunteer opportunities during the summer. Volunteer reading pals read for at least 20 minutes one-on-one with a child or listen to a child read. Volunteers can read a book from the library or their own collection or listen to a child read from their own book. Reading pals can offer a once-a-week or even once-a-month commitment.

Volunteers also can adopt a shelf. Volunteers must visit the library at least three times in a month. At each visit, shelf owners will keep their shelf orderly and pull any misplaced items for library staff to shelve.

All volunteers must apply and are screened. To volunteer, call the library at (630) 466-4686.

Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley: Volunteer docents are needed for the Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden in the Fabyan Forest Preserve on Route 31 just north of Fabyan Parkway in Geneva.

The Fabyan Villa was redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907 for George and Nelle Fabyan, and houses artifacts and collections of the Fabyans. The Japanese Garden was designed and created around 1910 for the Fabyans.

Volunteers give guided tours, answer questions on self-guided days, and assist with children's programs. No experience is necessary, and training is provided. Volunteers are asked to commit to giving one afternoon each month through the summer season. Weekday and weekend hours are available.

For more information, or to register for the information session, please call 630.377.6424 or e-mail fabyanvilla@ppfv.org. The Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden are owned by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and operated by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.

Fox Valley Wildlife Center: The Wildlife Center needs volunteers through October.

Volunteers must be at least 18 and commit to four hours a week. College students can get college credit.

The center is in Elburn Woods Forest Preserve on Route 38 about a half mile west of Route 47 in Elburn.

For more information, call (630) 365-3800.

Food bank: The Northern Illinois Food Bank on Industrial Drive in St. Charles is looking for volunteers age 16 and older. Volunteers are needed the most from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Evening shifts from 6 to 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays are also available.

Other weekday opportunities include being a part of the Food Rescue Team, which involves traveling to local grocery stores to pick up perishable foods and delivering them directly to shelters and soup kitchens the same day. Drivers and helpers are needed but no special license is required.

For more information, call (630) 443-6910 or visit www.northernilfoodbank.org.

Foster care: Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center is seeking caring adults, single or married, in homes or apartments, to become foster parents for abused and neglected children to age 18. Aunt Martha's offers training, ongoing support and partnership in a family focused team approach to foster care. Staff members consult weekly with parents. Foster parents can be trained and licensed within six to eight months. Aunt Martha's is sponsoring a monthly foster parent support group. Specialized foster parents receive 12 paid days a year for respite care and working parents are reimbursed for day care expenses. Foster parents are needed for children of all ages and backgrounds, particularly for teens and sibling groups. For details call Erin Pearlman at (847) 622-0010 ext. 11.

American Cancer Society: The Batavia office is looking for cancer survivors to help newly diagnosed patients in its Support for Recovery program. Volunteers offer comfort and support to patients either face-to-face in the home or by telephone.

Survivors of all cancer types are needed and must be at least one year post treatment. Training is provided. For more information, call Corie Rectenwald at (630) 879-9009 or e-mail Corie.Rectenwald@cancer.org.

• Volunteers are needed in Kane County to help provide services to cancer patients, plan fundraising events such as Relay for Life, educate the public on cancer prevention and early detection and provide office and clerical assistance.

For details, call the American Cancer Society at (630) 879-9009. For cancer-related information or more background on the American Cancer Society, call (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice: Volunteer training is available. The agency needs volunteers to provide emotional support, companionship or respite care for individuals dealing with life-threatening illness or loss.

Those interested must complete a volunteer application. For an application and appointment, call Mary O'Malley at (630) 232-2233, ext. 213.

CASA Kane County: CASA Kane County is a nonprofit organization that trains court appointed special advocate volunteers to represent the interests of abused and neglected children in court. Last year, the program's 200 volunteers served 467 children throughout Kane County.

Evening training hours are now available for those interested in becoming volunteer court-appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children through CASA Kane County.

Meetings are at the Kane County Courthouse, 100 S. Third St., Suite 460, Geneva. For more information, call (630) 444-3110.

For more information about the CASA program, visit www.casakanecounty.org.

Community Technology Center: Volunteers are needed to assist adults learning basic computer skills at the new Community Technology Center at the Aurora Community Center, 501 College Ave., Aurora.

Volunteers need a basic knowledge of computers and must be at least 18 years old. Training will be provided.

Volunteers will assist the instructor with the free basic computer classes and during open computer lab hours.

Flexible volunteer hours are available. For more information, contact Waubonsee's Career Services Center at (630) 466-7900, ext. 2368, or e-mail careerservices@waubonsee.edu.

Adult Literacy Project: Volunteers are needed to tutor adults in reading, writing and English communication. Training and materials will be provided at no cost.

Volunteers who complete the training will work with adults one-on-one or in a classroom environment.

For more information, call the Adult Literacy Project at (630) 801-7900, ext. 4107.

Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers for its ReStore at 860 N. State St., Elgin.

A ReStore is a home renovation center that receives donated building materials and sells them at bargain prices to the general public. ReStore revenues fund the construction of additional Habitat for Humanity homes in Kane County.

Father/son teams and others with strong muscles are needed to pick up donated building materials, one Saturday per month, in Elgin and surrounding areas. Participants must be 16 years old. A truck is provided. For more information, call Jan at (630) 208-9207 or e-mail jan.miller@hfhnfv.org.

The nonprofit, community-based organization builds homes in Elgin, Carpentersville and St. Charles for low-income families. For more information, contact Jeremy Keen at (847) 742-9905 or jeremy.keen@hfhnfv.org.

• ReUseIt Center is seeking volunteers to work in the store at 1530 Hubbard Ave., Batavia. Volunteers are needed Wednesdays through Saturdays to help with a variety of tasks.

ReUseIt Center is a division of Mid-Valley Neighborhood Improvement Association, a not-for-profit organization that helps limited-income families through its emergency home repair fund and loan programs.

No experience is necessary. Volunteers must be high school age or older. For more information, call Sue at (630) 761-4240.

RSVP: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program seeks volunteers who are 55 or older. The program has links with 200 organizations throughout Kane and McHenry counties.

Volunteers can give a few hours per month, or serve up to six hours a day. Agencies are currently looking for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors, act as docents or tour guides, tutor children, serve as friendly visitors, drive seniors to medical appointments and work in hospitals and resale shops.

For more information, call Debbie Danitz, director at (800) 339-3200.

Geneva Township Senior Services Committee: The committee needs volunteers. It oversees senior center operations and meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the township office, 400 Wheeler Drive in Wheeler Park off Route 31 north of Route 38 in Geneva.

For details, contact Sheri McMurray at (630) 232-3604 or smcmur-ray@genevatownship.com.

Internet Miniature Pinscher Rescue: The mission is to improve the lives of homeless and bndoned miniature pinschers with humane care.

Homes are needed to foster dogs until a permanent adoptive home is found.

For information, contact Linda Sobieski at samartnik@comast.net or Michelle Leonard at crazyaboutminpins@comcast.net.

Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets: HELP is seeking volunteers to care for dogs or puppies in their homes until the animals are adopted into permanent homes.

HELP provides pet food, supplies and veterinary care for foster animals. Training is provided for foster home volunteers.

HELP is an all-volunteer animal rescue organization that obtains medical care and shelter for stray and abandoned cats and dogs until they are adopted. H.E.L.P. is not an animal shelter. Call the HELPLine at (630) 879-8500 for information.

Rover Rescue: The dog adoption agency is seeking volunteer foster homes to care for puppies and dogs. Because of overcrowding at some animal shelters, many animals may be euthanized to make room for more strays brought in each day. Rover Rescue only has enough foster homes to take in a few dogs at a time. The organization is looking for temporary emergency foster homes as well as long-term arrangements.

Formed in 2003, Rover Rescue is an all-volunteer group that relies on a network of foster homes to care for stray and abandoned dogs until they can be adopted by new owners. To volunteer as a foster home or for information on fostering, call Rover Rescue at (630) 897-7454.

Aurora Historical Society: The society needs volunteers for light maintenance and upkeep and to serve as tour guides at Tanner House. Volunteers are also needed to catalog artifacts from the collections and materials in the research archives, help with exhibit preparation and construction and to serve as guides at the downtown exhibit center. For details call (630) 906-0650.

Geneva History Center: The Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., is seeking volunteers to greet visitors, assist with programs and tours, host museum special events and help in the museum store. Volunteers are also needed for cataloging materials and basic computer entry. Hours and days will vary. For details, call (630) 232-4951 or e-mail ghc@genevahistorycenter.org.

Coast Guard: The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-1, Division 9, a civilian arm of the Coast Guard, is seeking volunteers for a variety of duties. The flotilla is part of the Department of Homeland Security. For details, call public affairs officer Art Andre at (630) 845-9612 or e-mail ArtKay2000@cs.com.

Marklund: Volunteers are needed to work in the residential centers and at resale shops. For details on the Geneva and Winfield locations, call Cathy Nikrandt at (630) 593-5468. For Bloomingdale and Roselle, call Pat Peterman at (630) 529-2871. Call (630) 594-1489 for details on the resale shop.

Suicide prevention: Volunteers are needed to help with the crisis line. Training is provided.

For information, call Holly Cherry at (630) 482-9699, ext. 227.

Crisis Line of the Fox Valley: The Crisis Line of the Fox Valley is in need of volunteers for the crisis line. For information, call Cheryl Brown at (630) 966-4304.

Glenwood School for Boys and Girls: The school seeks volunteers for help in tutoring, sponsoring clubs, computer supervision in student labs, coordinating special events and fundraisers, and instruction and supervision in the new Kidshop, where carpentry and other skills are taught.

The Rathje Campus is in Campton Township. Founded in 1887, Glenwood School helps disadvantaged children overcome family and community struggles and gain the confidence to achieve their full potential.

For details, contact Sherry at (847) 464-8225 or smorel@glenwoodschool.org.