Volunteer Opportunities In and Around Chicago This Holiday Season
As winter approaches, you may be looking for volunteer opportunities in and around Chicago that will give you the chance to give back to your community this holiday season. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! There are a great number of local charities and organizations that could use your help, time, and effort this season – children, soup kitchens, animal shelters, and so much more. Here’s a look at a few nonprofits across Chicago that could use an extra helping hand:
Charities & Organizations
The Night Ministry
The Night Ministry organization works to offer housing, healthcare, and other human services to members of the Chicago community who are struggling with poverty or homelessness. Their work is especially important once the snow and ice sets in, as they help those in desperate need get off of the cold streets. They operate on the ground in Chicago neighborhoods to build relationships and provide immediate, practical resources. They offer everything from medical exams, to support and guidance, to food and self-care supplies, to hot coffee and conversation with a sense of community. For more information, visit: www.thenightministry.org
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Based in Chicago’s West Loop, Mercy Home offers young people in crisis an opportunity that saves lives and changes futures. They provide full-time residential, aftercare and community-based mentoring programs that nurture, guide and provide opportunities to hurting and troubled young men and women. For information on volunteer opportunities, visit: www.mercyhome.org
The Anti-Cruelty Society
The Anti-Cruelty Society is always looking for volunteers to help care for shelter pets. Since 1899, they have given shelter and medical care for hundreds of thousands of animals. Volunteers help make their mission possible by helping in many different capacities throughout the shelter, in adoption centers, in veterinary clinics and even from the comforts of their own homes. For more information, visit: http://anticruelty.org
Food Banks
Food banks in and around Chicago have a high demand during the holidays. One of the largest in the Chicago area is Feeding America. For information on volunteer opportunities, visit: www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/volunteer/
Chicago Cares
If you’re looking to volunteer but aren’t too sure where to start or what to do, Chicago Cares has a wide variety of projects that you can get involved with. Here’s a look at their volunteer calendar for some examples of how you can help out: http://www.chicagocares.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Calendar_Page
Monetary Donations
If you want to help out this holiday season but don’t have time, you can donate money or goods to several great organizations. Some of these include: Deborah’s Place, Big Brothers or Big Sisters of Metro Chicago, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Chicago. For more information on how to donate, visit: https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate
Tight on Cash?
If you’re a bit tight on cash, you can still donate by doing your regular shopping at OneBrick.org/Amazon. With each purchase, One Brick Chicago will receive a 7% donation with no extra money spent on your part. You can also do this with several other charities.
While there are all sorts of other volunteer opportunities in and around Chicago that aren’t on this list, these are just a few ideas to get you started. If you have any favorites of your own, please share them with us, as we all continue to show our love and support for this great city.
