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 your are age 55 or over, 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.

Holiday volunteers

• Holiday volunteer opportunities are abundant for both individuals and groups. Some are listed below. Call The Volunteer Center at (847) 228-1320 for details (24-hour voice mail). For a complete listing, visit www.volunteerinfo.net.

Holiday parties

• Two or three volunteers are needed to help with area nursing home resident holiday parties from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 20 and 21; two helpers needed to deliver gifts with Santa Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. Santa costume provided. Ring in the new year and celebrate with the residents from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A44 #1298

• Five volunteers, 16 years and older, needed to assist with set up, serving and clean up at an area senior center from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 12. A106 #2034

• Residential facility for adults with disabilities needs help on Christmas Day from 9:30 a.m. to noon, to help clients open gifts and help with clean up of wrapping paper, etc. Twelve or 13 volunteers, 15 years and under with an adult will also be needed. A20 #1302

• Help serve food at an area nursing home's Christmas parties from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 11, 14 or 18. Santa Claus, who has a suit, is needed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 11, 14 or 18 to help deliver presents. Two Santas are also needed from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 20. A01 #1295

Adopt-a-family/ individual

• Reward students when they reach their academic goals with gift certificates, in $5 to $20 denominations, for an area tutoring program for low-income families. Suggestions are gift certificates to Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer's or Kmart. A103 # 2043

• An area township is in need of individuals to adopt one or three families, please call for wish list. Also looking for gift certificates from Kohl's, Target, Wal-Mart, Jewel, Dominick's or Aldi in denominations of $10. Deadline is Friday. A55 #2051

• Join the Holiday Assistance Program by sponsoring an individual or family, by providing items from their wish list. Call for details. Deadline, Friday. General new donations for any age/size/gender and gift certificates to major grocery stores, Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl's in $10 denominations will also be accepted by Dec. 14. A70 #1330

• Residential facility for adults with disabilities is in need of gift certificates to Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer's, Old Country Buffet, McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, etc. for the holiday season, deadline date is Friday. A20 #1846

• Adopt-a-family/child from area women's homeless shelter. Specific wish lists are available. Gifts to be unwrapped. Infant items, such as, diapers (all sizes), wipes, Desitin, pacifiers, teething rings, baby powder, shampoo, etc are also needed. Gift certificates to Dominick's, Jewel, Target, Walgreens, Jiffy Lube, bus/train passes, Lane Bryant, Sears, Menard's, Gasoline gift cards, Home Depot, Costco, etc. Non-perishable foods, paper products, deodorant, cleaning products, soaps, board games, Barbie dolls, Early Learning toys, crafts, etc. Deadline, Friday. A71 #1349

• Join the "Mitten Tree Project" during the holiday season for the Human Services Division of the city of Des Plaines. Collect new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for children and adults who are in need. A19 #1353

• Area nursing home in need of personal gift items for residents, stationary, cards, CDs, stamps, socks for men and women, toiletries, small stuffed animals, small picture frames, lap blankets, facial tissue, etc. Deadline date is Friday. A44 #1340

• Brighten the lives of area disabled by donating holiday gifts, such as, electric toothbrushes, electric shavers, baby wipes, CDs or animated videos, gloves, scarves, toiletries, sweat suits (adult M-XL), slippers, hats, socks, games, puzzles, colored pencils, or jewelry kits. Gift certificates to magazines, Wal-Mart, Target, McDonald's, theaters, Baskin-Robbins, Toys-R-Us, etc. Friday deadline. A20 #1351

• Help fill the wish list of the 21 area homeless shelters. Gift certificates to your fast food restaurants, major grocery stores, gas cards, Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's, Meijer's, etc in $5 or $10 denominations. Men's and women's underwear, socks, thermal underwear, boots, gloves of all sizes. Deadline is Friday. A54 #1611

• Social service organization is in need of gift certificates to Jewel, Dominick's, Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, gas cards, etc for needy children and their families. Deadline is Friday. A39 #1613

• A community action agency in need of gift certificates to Wal-Mart, Target, gas cards, etc. in small denominations. Specific wish lists are also available if interested in adopting a family, call for details. Deadline Friday. A12 #1874

Food donations

• All types of canned goods, nonperishable items such as pretzels, raisins, peanuts, Pop Tarts in easy-to-go packages for area homeless shelters. Deadline is Friday. A54 #2032

• Canned goods of all types, cereals, pasta sauce, PB&J flour and yeast, etc for community action agency. Deadline, Dec. 14. A12 #1333

Holiday party supplies/decorations/ wrapping supplies/ crafts

• Residential facility for adults with disabilities in need of holiday stickers for windows that come off easily and all types of musical CDs. Deadline, Friday. A20 #1845

• Donations of wrapping paper, gift bags (various sizes), gift tags, tissue paper, bows and tape are needed for transitional shelter for homeless women their children. Supplies needed for until Dec. 21. A71 #1312

Friendly visitors/ entertainment

• Ongoing need for volunteers to friendly visit with seniors for agency serving the elderly and disabled. Help provide companionship and conversation during the holidays and throughout the year. Volunteers under age 18 must be with an adult. A14 #2038

• A group of three to six carolers needed at a residential facility for adults with disabilities on Christmas Eve from 1 to 2 p.m. or 2 to 3 p.m. A20 #1844

• Christmas carolers or musicians, small group or individuals, are invited to perform at an area nursing home between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., in December. Friendly visitors, including children of all ages, are also welcome anytime during the holidays. A01 #1632

• Face painter needed for children's party from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Arlington Heights for counseling center serving pregnant women and needy families. Painting supplies will be provided. A97 1300