Get involved!

Get involved! 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 if your are age 55 or older, call Retired & Senior Volunteer Program at (847) 228-1006. The code at the end of each item is used to match volunteers with agencies; have the code ready when you call.

Disaster relief

• Volunteer health professionals are needed on Palatine's Medical Reserve Corp. Volunteers will be assisting local first responders during a disaster and be available resource to help the community with public health needs. Various committees are available. Age 18 & older #2061

• Instructors needed to give community disaster education presentations to a variety of audiences -- youth, elderly, community groups. Instructors may need to travel around the city, but it's not a requirement. Training required. Age 18 & older #514

• 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 & older #518

One-time events

• Relay For Life is a community celebration. Have fun while raising money to fight cancer. Assist with registration, security, food sales, set-up, etc., 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. Weekends beginning May 16 to July 19. Various locations Age 16 & older #879

• Special Olympics District Aquatics Meet, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 30 at Lattof YMCA, Des Plaines. Assist with set-up, check-in, team hosts, bullpen, lane assistants, escorts, awards, results runners, concessions and souvenirs. Must stay for full day. Age 14 & older #894

• Join collection campaign to benefit special needs clients Sept. 12 and 13. Organizers needed in various Northwest suburbs to recruit, train and schedule volunteers for street corners and local grocery store chains for two-day fun event. Age 18 & older #2078

• Assist the staff with Easter brunch at Lambs Farm, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 23. Help serve coffee, bus tables, etc. Volunteers will receive complimentary brunch. Age 14 & older #891

• Special Olympics Track & Field Time Trials, noon to 7 p.m., March 27 at Rolling Meadows High School. Volunteer responsibilities include: event committee, event coordinators, athlete escorts, timing and recording, etc. Age 14 & older #895

• Enjoy a Bunny Brunch for an agency serving the handicapped. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 21 and 22. Help with the kids program, assisting in the restaurant and joining the staff during this event. Age 14 & older #890

• Join the fun at Spring Time Camp events. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 24 to 28 in Bartlett, Wheeling, Mount Prospect and Palatine. Activities include cool crafts, swimming, gym activities and socializing. Age 14 & older #1288

• Gala to benefit adults with disabilities to be held at Chevy Chase from 4:30 to 11 p.m. April 12. Assist with auction tables selling raffles tickets, direct check-out flow, and much more. Age 18 & older #1962

Receptionist/hospitality

• Relief receptionist needed at local nursing home, one hour per day, suggested hours, 11 a.m. to noon or noon to 1 p.m., flexible days. Duties include answer phone, greet visitors, sign for packages, call emergency codes. Age 16 & older #130

• Lambs Farm is in need of volunteers to be greeters and assist the wait/bus staff in the Country Inn restaurant. Hours are 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Age 14 & older #1169

Schools/mentors

• Help to 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 & older #1428

Senior centers

• Assist at Adult Day Center for seniors with short term memory loss. Volunteers will assist one day a week with the group facilitator during group activities and lunch time. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Age 18 & older #1771

• Computer literate volunteers needed to teach in the Senior Net Computer Program two hours, one day per week. Basic, Word, Works, Windows, Excel, Internet and e-mail, album or data base. Also needed are computer assistants. Age 21 & older #1560

• Cafe 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. Opportunity for someone interested in food service industry. Age 16 & older #1644

Senior citizens assistance

• Perform chores for Seniors. Assist with yard work, painting, carpet cleaning and small repairs, such as safety bars on bathroom walls or stairs, replace or repair light fixtures, simple plumbing jobs. Agency has small budget for expenses. Age 21 & older #1789

• Senior services agency is seeking advocate volunteers who will work with older adults to ensure that they are receiving public and private benefits that they are entitled to but not taking advantage of. Flexible hours, support and training provided. Age 21 & older #461

Senior friendly visitors

• Do you have the gift of gab and not always someone to share it with? Bring joy to the life of a local shut-in senior by sharing time and companionship a couple of flexible hours a week or month. Age 18 & older #1283

• Trivia and word gamers to lead assisted-living residents in this after-dinner activity. Play 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. any day Sunday-Saturday. Age 55 & older #1692

Shelters for women and children

• House Advocate volunteer to answer the telephone, provide information and referrals related to family violence, set up counseling appointments, complete intake forms and orient new residents to the Safe House. Forty-hour Domestic Violence training required. Age 18 & older #1758

Special skills volunteer

• Join the Quest Program at Lambs. Assist instructors in a variety of classes/activities offered to participants to help them reach their personal best. Volunteers are needed for three hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. once a week for 12 weeks, Age 21 & older #654

• Affordable housing project needs volunteers who have expertise in newsletter production and editing. Newsletters are done quarterly, you can work at their office or from home if you have Publisher Pro. Age 18 & older #1824

Telephone hotlines

• Provide emotional support and information to victims of sexual assault/abuse at hospital emergency rooms and police departments. Attend 40-hour training and commit to a six-hour shift once a week. Next training will be held in March and April 2008. Age 18 & older #1991

Thrift/gift/resale shops

• Tired of bingo? Like to shop? Put your skills to use at the Lambs Farm thrift shop. Help is needed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A commitment of three hours per week is requested. Age 16 & older #655

• Assist shoppers, blow up balloons, answer phones, shelve supplies, operate cash register, and credit card machine in lovely hospital gift shop. Monday-Friday 3 to 9 p.m. Age 55 & older #625

Transportation services

• Help transport seniors to doctor's appointments for tests, check-ups, hospital or other health related appointments. Valid driver's license and proof of auto insurance needed. Age 18 & older #1436

• Drivers needed one or two days a week to pick up dialysis patients in Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows or Glenview and return them to their homes in the Northwest Suburbs. Pick up at approximately 7 to 7:30 p.m. Must have valid driver's license. Flexible schedule. Age 21 & older #2055

Tutoring

• Help lead a beginners English class, 9 to 11 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. Must speak fluent English, no degree required, on-the-job training. Age 20 & older #1247

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