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Shalom Corps Volunteer Opportunities
The list below is a curated selection of just some of volunteer opportunities within the Chicagoland area. Participants of the program can select from the list or recommend an alternate selection after consulting with their program leader.
Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
● Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum is looking to collect artistic representations of and responses to life throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. These submissions will be used on the museum’s social media and online exhibitions. These artistic responses can range from visual to language arts through various mediums.
● Lifting Hearts with the Arts
You get to connect with residents of care facilities! These folks have been impacted by physical and emotional isolation from their loved ones due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc, you get to communicate with a resident who you will be paired with! These pairings will be determined by mutual interests. You’ll be able to virtually engage in activities surrounding visual, language, performance, and even culinary arts.
● Best Buddies
You’ll be paired with children with intellectual disabilities and work on various projects together, from games to homework and more all online.
● The Honeycomb Project
In response to the current health crisis, Honeycomb at Home is a new virtual volunteer program designed to uplift and mobilize kids during these uncertain times. There are free online lessons which feature inspiring videos, dinner discussion topics, enriching volunteer activities, and more. You can learn safe ways to make a difference from home.
● KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
KEEN volunteers are assigned one program participant or “athlete.” Your job will be to help them engage in various exercise and sporting activities and have a good time!
● Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
You’ll be able to create connections with elderly folks via handwritten letters and phone calls! Typically this organization acts in-person, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteering programs have moved virtual. That being said, this is a great way to foster connections with elderly people within your community!
In-Person Volunteer Opportunities
● Cradles to Crayons
The mission of C2C is that every child will have all of the essentials that they need at home, at school, and at play. As a volunteer you will be working at the Giving Factory where you will inspect and sort donations which will then be distributed to the children they serve!
● PAWS Chicago
You will be able to go to the PAWS Family Service Medical Center and help maintain a clean and safe environment for homeless pets. You will help clean areas of the center, assist with laundry and dishes, assist with any other special projects or tasks, and help socialize the animals!
● Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD)
Volunteering at the GCFD includes activities such as repacking food into family sized portions, working with the FRESH truck, and more throughout the year!
● Lakeview Pantry
You’ll have the opportunity to represent the Lakeview Pantry by helping to distribute pre-packaged bags of groceries at their Sheridan Market and La Casa Norte’s Fresh Market.
● Chicago Pet Rescue
You have the opportunity to sign up to volunteer in a variety of areas within the Chicago Pet Rescue. These areas include handling animals and aiding them in socialization, volunteering to help adoption fundraisers, training animals, and more. However, if younger than 18 years old, you will need parental supervision.
● Brave Space Alliance
A Black, trans-led organization focused on empowering and elevating queer and trans voices, you can become a part of this incredible community through volunteering! Currently, you are able to aid the BSA Crisis Pantry Program and Crisis Pantry Network.
Collect and Drop Off Volunteer Opportunities
• Clothing/Material Goods Drop Offs: Collect unwanted clothes and other items around your house and donate them to places such as:
1. The Salvation Army
2. Goodwill
3. Crayons to Cradles
• Food/ Personal Goods Collection and Drop Off: Collect or purchase non perishable food items and bring them to the following places:
1. The ARK
2. The Lakeview Pantry
3. Northern Illinois Food Bank
