Get involved!

For more opportunities, see the Volunteer Center Web site, www.volunteerinfo.net.

You can make a difference and help the community in which you live and work. The Volunteer Center has hundreds of opportunities; listed here is a sampling. Call the Center's Agency/School Volunteer Program at (847) 228-1320 or Retired & Senior Volunteer Program at (847) 228-1006.

Alzheimer's/ related disorders

• Assist the director on dementia unit floor with reading, storytelling and other activities on weekends, weekdays with other scheduled activities. Flexible schedule. Age 55 & over #325

Animals

• Ginger, Bailey & Duke, be a volunteer! Are you a certified/therapy trained dog to visit area nursing home for one-hour visit? Best times are from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Need proof of pet's vaccinations. Age 18 & over #1266

Cancer societies

• Wanted: people with heart who are willing to alphabetize and file information for an agency that provides support to siblings of children with cancer. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Commit to four hours per day or one full day. Please help! Age 14 & over #1746

Child care

• Provide childcare while parents participate in support groups or workshops. Hours are from 4 to 6 p.m., Mondays and Fridays at the Prospect Heights location and 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesdays at the Mundelein location. Spanish speaking ability a plus. Age 14 & over #21

Children's activities

• Saturday Surprise. Come out and play with special needs children, 3 to 7 years of age. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Activities include swimming, crafts, fine motor skills and playground activities. Age 14 & over #1543

Citizenship program

• Teacher assistants for citizenship classes, three locations, 11 weeks, to help students do mock interviews and prepare students for history and government questions. Thursday and Friday, evening hours, Saturday, afternoon hours, Age 18 & over #1576

Computer/data entry

• Office help needed for clerical work, data entry, bulk mailings, filing, and to sort/organize press clippings and photographs for agency serving special needs adults and children. Office is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Age 16 & over #60

• Provide administrative support for transitional women's shelter. Data Entry, typing, labeling, prepare mailings and a host of other tasks. Time commitment is flexible and the assignment will be in Schaumburg or Mount Prospect. Age 18 & over #1760

Conservation/nature

• Assist ground staff with restoring of native prairie, oak savannah, march and riparian woodlands. First and third Fridays of month, 2 to 5 p.m., or fourth Saturday of the month, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Age 55 & over #1686

Disaster relief

• Join the Mass Care Response Team and respond to disasters by providing shelter operations, mass feeding and bulk distribution of supplies. Four to eight hours per month required. Training provided. Community disaster responders also needed. Age 21 & over #518

Food pantry

• Self Help Closet and Food Pantry is in need of assistance 10 to 15 hours a week registering clients, preparing reports and record keeping. Must be good with numbers and statistics. Knowledge of and/or willingness to learn computer is preferred. Age 21 & over #1490

Fund-raising projects

• Area elementary school for children with disabilities are in need of games, supplies for the games and workers for their Halloween Fun Fair on Oct. 27. Prizes will be supplied. Age under 16 w/parent #1376

Homeless

• Eighteen shelter sites are open one night per week, October-April. Trained volunteers needed to help set-up, check-in guests, serve dinner, oversee site, etc., second and third shift workers are needed in Northwest suburbs. Training to begin in September. Age 16 & over #808

Hospital volunteers

• Area hospice can use you for non-patient assistance with mailings, filing, word processing, making bereavement packets, crafts, holiday activities or special projects. Put your talent and skills to work. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Training provided. Age 55 & over #1998

Literacy programs

• Share your knowledge of the English language and your ability to read with foreign or American born adults two mornings, afternoons or evenings a week or on Saturday mornings. Program runs approximately 10 weeks. Training dates starting in September. Age 18 & over #97

Maintenance

• Provide assistance to an agency serving adults who are developmentally disabled. Duties include general repair, painting and landscaping at client's independent living home. This can be a one-time or ongoing project. Age 21 & over #409

Nursing homes

• Assist priest at Mass at area nursing home with distribution of the Holy Eucharist and reading scriptures. Age 18 & over #1815

One time events

• Work at the Haunted Trail from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct 26 with special needs teens and young adults. Event to be held at the River Trails Park District in Mount Prospect. Age 14 & over #1593

• Parents' Night Out, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., on Sept. 28 and Dec. 12 and 14 in the Northwest suburbs. Assist staff in activities such as crafts, videos and sports with special needs children and their siblings to give parents an evening out. Age 14 & over #1226

• Enjoy the "Pumpkin Fest" which includes a hay ride, an animated Fun Barn, the action-packed Pig Races, and Corn Maze from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8. Age 14 & over #1592

Receptionist/ hospitality

• Reception desk help needed at social service agency, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Answer phones, make reassurance calls to homebound and assist with general office duties. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, help make reassurance calls to homebound. Age 16 & over #135

Schools/mentors

• Elementary school has variety of opportunities to help the staff and students. Office helpers, tutors for students, or help on a one-time event. School day hours. Flexible hours. Age 55 & over #1854

• Help shape the future of a child. Tutors needed for local elementary school children. Meaningful assignments working one on one with children under the direction of the teacher. Training provided. Volunteers needed for the school year. Age 55 & over #1412

Senior centers

• Café assistant needed to take inventory of cafe items and supplies. Restock items, offer suggestions for improvement to cafe and wash coffee pots. Willing to work with your schedule. Great opportunity for someone interested in food service industry. Age 16 & over #1644

Senior citizens assistance

• Counsel older adults on health insurance benefits, coverage, Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap insurance. Assist with settling outstanding bills/notices from healthcare providers, 9 a.m. to noon, first and third Wednesday of each month. Training provided. Age 30 & over #876

Special skills volunteer

• Female Spanish translators needed, four hours per week, for counseling center for pregnant women, to assist adults in a confidential environment, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays. Willing to work with your schedule. Age 18 & over #1222

Thrift/gift/ resale shops

• Need a few strong men to help at thrift shop with donation pick-ups and lifting. Flexible days and times. Help in the Thrift shop needed on Tuesdays days and evenings, Thursdays evenings, Saturdays, 9 30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Age 16 & over #638

• Many hands needed to sort, hang, price and work with customers, etc. at a Resale Shop serving individuals and families in crisis. Store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday Age 18 & over #1763

Transportation services

• Transport seniors to doctor, hospital appointments or other health related appointments. Valid driver's license and proof of auto insurance. Age 21 & over #1433

Tutoring

• Be a reading instructor, Monday-Friday, flexible days and times at an agency serving disabled adults. Commitment of six months. Age 18 & over #191