Volunteers needed at ZCenter in Gurnee

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center is now accepting applications from women and men who have daytime availability for its Winter Volunteer Training beginning Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 4275 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee.

ZCenter especially needs those who are interested in participating in weekday prevention work in area schools, as well as those available to advocate for survivors going through the courts system, or to get involved in ZCenter's new Up2Us Men's Initiative, or who can help with special events.

“The reward of being a Zacharias Center volunteer comes from the enormous emotional satisfaction of helping a survivor of sexual assault and abuse go ‘From Here to Healing,'” said Wendy Ivy, ZCenter's director of outreach and community services, who points out that women of color and bilingual women are especially needed as volunteers. “If you believe in equality and diversity and that absolutely no one deserves to be sexually assaulted or ever ‘asks' to be raped, you believe in ZCenter's mission.”

With the support of caring volunteers, ZCenter's dedicated staff provides survivors of sexual assault or abuse with comprehensive, confidential services at no charge including: medical and legal advocacy, emergency room and police sensitivity training, 24-hour crisis hotline and crisis intervention services, and counseling for both individuals and groups. The nonprofit service provider's education department also provides prevention education to thousands of area school children each year.

“We're looking for volunteers who are open-minded and non-judgmental, even around emotionally difficult and controversial issues,” Ivy said. “You don't need to have a degree. The only requirement is that you are able to listen and empathize.“

To find out more about the volunteer opportunities available at Zacharias Center, call Wendy Ivy, at (847) 244-1187, ext. 24. To get more details and register online, visit zcenter.org/volRegistration.htm.