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 if you 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.

Blood drive and related services

• Help harness and direct the outpouring and concern of donors who are eager to help patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. Monthly blood drives are held throughout the Northwest suburbs and the Chicago area. Flexible dates and times. Age 18 & over #2065

Board of directors

• Agency serving developmentally disabled adults seeking someone with interest in fundraising, public relations, marketing, human resources or legal areas. Age 21 & over #404

Bulk mailers

• Senior services agency in need of assistance with newsletter mailing every other month from noon to 3 p.m., days vary. Age 16 & over #463

Child care

• Daytime caretakers needed, Monday-Friday. Training provided. Background check, current TB test and physical required. Age 21 & over #24

Children's activities

• Early childhood center's young children would enjoy your time in play circle activities, or help prepare their food trays. Light office clerical assistance also needed. Monday-Thursday morning or afternoons. Opportunities during the school year. Age 55 & over #1901

Citizenship program

• Help an elderly immigrant prepare for citizenship exam on U.S. history and government. Practice for in-person interview with an immigration officer. One-on-one tutoring for 15 weeks. Tutors must be bilingual; Russian/Polish/Spanish and English. Age 55 & over #1916

Clerical/office help

• Be the assistant to a volunteer manager, help recruit and schedule volunteers, general computer knowledge and clerical work. Monday-Friday, flexible three-hour shifts mornings & afternoons. Some work can be done at home. Age 18 & over #2095

• Provide assistance with administrative projects, answer phones, type and light filing as needed for an Evanston outreach youth organization during regular office hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Age 55 & over #364

Computer/data entry

• Assist with data base entries for an organization in Northbrook, serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Five to 10 hours per week between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday; willing to work with your schedule. Age 16 & over #1904

Conservation/nature

• Help with trail maintenance, seed collecting, planting projects, grounds clean-up or weed removal, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., fourth Saturday of the month in Schaumburg area. Age 16 & over #1162

Drop-in youth centers

• Teen Center volunteers for area drop-in centers, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Assist staff with supervision, encouragement and support. Flexible schedule, training provided and a commitment of four months required. Age 17 & over #798

Food pantry

• Help feed starving children. Volunteers will pack nutritious meals April 16 to 20 at a local church. Shifts available Wednesday to Saturday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Individuals & groups welcome. All ages #2094

Fundraising projects

• Join us during a major used book sale to benefit children and adults with developmental disabilities beginning June 6. Duties include stacking shelves, boxing up books and assisting customers. Four-hour shifts available. Age 18 & over #1932

Hospice/respite

• Learn how to help and support newly widowed people in your community. Looking for male, female and bilingual volunteers. Saturday and weekday evenings, training provided. Age 21 & over #92

Hospital volunteers

• Area hospice can use you for nonpatient 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

• Get exercise with helping others! If you like walking, why not join a team of Escort volunteers as they assist patients leaving the hospital. Enjoy exercise while interacting with patients, and learning your way around. Monday to Friday, four hours a week. Age 55 & over #814

Library

• Cancer Resource Center needs volunteers to catalog new and returning books on an as-needed basis. Flexible weekday schedule, morning or afternoons. Age 17 & over #2022

Literacy programs

• 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 & over #1247

Maintenance

• Assist with all types of maintenance, from washing chairs throughout the campus to painting projects. Age 16 & over #1921

• Help with yard clean-up by raking and bagging leaves for residential community for persons with disabilities. Any day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. except for Sunday. Can accommodate groups up to 50. Bring your owns gloves and rakes. Age 16 & over #1603

• Temporary caregiver needed for a woman with cerebral palsy & a learning disability due to an injury. Help with cleaning, laundry, meal prep and errands. Hours are flexible three times a week during recovery period. Age 18 & over #1960

Meals on Wheels

• Park Ridge and unincorporated Des Plaines drivers needed during the noon hours to deliver meals to elderly shut-ins. Weekdays only 1 to 1½ hours. Age 55 & over #1267

Mentally and/or physically challenged

• Brandise Used Book Sale will be coming to Palatine next year and is looking for 10 volunteers to train on how to sort the books and the logistics on the used book sale. Agency needs volunteers, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday to sort books until June 2008. Age 18 & over #1780

• Volunteer needed to assist at music therapy class for seniors with disabilities. Class will be held on a flexible schedule, once a month or every other month. Age 18 & over #1833

Nursing homes

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

• Activity guide to assist running smaller groups of an existing program or develop your own program in area nursing home with the approval of the Life Enrichment Director. Age 15 & over #1814

One time events

• Help feed starving children. Volunteers will pack nutritious meals April 16 to 20 at a local church. Shifts available Wednesday-Saturday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30; Sundays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Individuals and groups welcome. Age all ages #2094

Senior citizens assistance

• Tax aides needed to provide free tax preparation to low and middle income taxpayers with attention to those ages 60 and older. Electronic filings and online counseling services provided in accordance with IRS guidelines. Age 55 & over #1948

Senior friendly visitors

• Share some of your time with eager resident at nursing home. Activity assistant for walks with residents, puzzles, sing-a-long and outings Morning, afternoon and evening hours available. Age 55 & over #1264

Shelters for women and children

• Like to organize? Assist the domestic violence coordinator relocate, check and organize donated items for the Safe House. Items include clothing, food items, paper and cleaning products, etc. Volunteers may need to pick up items at other sites. Age 18 & over #1759

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 April 2008. Age 18 & over #1991

Thrift/gift/resale shops

• Cashier and gift store attendant to sell a variety of items for children and the nature enthusiast including books, candles, sun catchers, T-shirts and seasonal items. Hours daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Age 55 & over #1701

Transportation services

• Serve child care providers by delivering toys to family child care providers homes and demonstrating activities for the children. Deliveries in Des Plaines and Glenview, no delivery in the summer months, only two hours a month using your own car. Age 55 & over #1193