Volunteer at an Agency
Volunteering at one of the Food Depository’s member soup kitchens, pantries and shelters offers an opportunity to directly assist your community. From helping prepare and serve meals to delivering food to tutoring, our agencies can use your time and talents. Please note that because of space issues, volunteering at an agency is best for individuals and small groups. Contact agencies directly for details. The following information is subject to change.
E-mail Volunteer Services or call the Food Depository at 773-247-FOOD to let us know about a volunteer experience at an agency.
Member agencies can download the Agency Volunteer Needs form here (PDF).
Updated February 2010
North Side | South Side | West Side
North Suburbs | South Suburbs | West Suburbs
North Side
AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER, 1630 W. Wilson Ave., is looking for volunteers to help with food distribution, assisting clients and light lifting from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Minimum age to volunteer: 17. Maximum group size: 6. Contact Kat Strangeman at 773-275-5871 ext. 16, or kstrangeman05@yahoo.com.
BREAKING BREAD MINISTRIES, located at 1111 N. Wells, is looking for volunteers to assist with food preparation and distribution on Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Food service restaurant style with six to eight guests at a table. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 4. Contact Marianne Pytel, 312-376-0118 or walsgooger@aol.com.
CHICAGO LIGHTS TUTORING AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 126 East Chestnut, needs tutors one day a week from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. from October through May. Contact Katie Wolgemuth, 312-274-3819 or kwolgemuth@fourthchurch.org.
THE CHILDREN'S ROOM, at 69 West Washington, #3300, needs volunteers every weekday morning and afternoon for reading to children, creating arts and crafts and assisting with snacks. Minimum age to volunteer: 13. Maximum group size: 15. Contact Sylvia McCullum, 312-603-1945, SmcCull@cookcountygov.com.
COMMON PANTRY, located at 3744 N. Damen Ave., is looking for English and Spanish speaking volunteers to assist with food distribution on Wednesdays. Contact Debbie at 773-327-0553 or commonpantry@hotmail.com
DEBORAH'S PLACE, 2822 West Jackson, 1530/1532 North Sedgwick, 1456 West Oakdale provides housing and supportive services for women who are homeless. Volunteers are needed for food preparation, activities and workshops in the Learning Centers, cleaning projects, and more. Minimum age to volunteer is 16. Maximum group size is 10. Contact Sarah Letson, 773-638-6579 or sletson@deborahsplace.org. Web site: http://www.deborahsplace.org/volunteer.
GIRLS IN THE GAME, a Kids Cafe at 1501 West Randolph Street, provides and promotes sports and fitness, health education and nutrition and leadership development to enhance the well-being of all girls. Volunteers are needed on a regular basis to assist with: Girls in the Game After-School, Summer Games Summer Camp, GameDay: Girls' Health Fest, tutor/homework help, special events, office activities and computer programming. Hours vary. Contact: Christie Ceaser at 312-633-4263 or christie@girlsinthegame.org.
GOOD NEWS PARTNERS—NEW LIFE INTERIM HOUSING, 1600 W. Jonquil Terrace, needs volunteers to help with tutoring programs for elementary school children. The Reading Coach Program is from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday and the After School Program is from 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteers also are needed to help with maintenance Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: Leah Kranz at 773-764-4998 or leah@goodnewspartners.org.
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE ELDERLY (H.O.M.E.) Throughout the year we welcome volunteers for seasonal and ongoing projects as well as one-time volunteer opportunities. You can volunteer as an individual, family or as a group at our three intergenerational homes and in the broader community. Projects include home weatherization, painting, being a guest chef on weekends, one-on-one visiting with seniors, facilitating entertainment at our intergenerational houses and assisting in our office. For more information about our Volunteer Services visit our Web site, www.HomeSeniors.org or call Mike Laz at (773) 921-3200, ext. 19 or e-mail: MikeL@HOMEseniors.org.
HUMBOLDT PARK SOCIAL SERVICES, INC., located at 2120 N. Mozart St., is in need of English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers to help with food distribution and assisting clients at their pantry on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 2 people. Also Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed for food preparation, distribution and assisting clients at the soup kitchen. Minimum age: 16. Maximum group size: 3 people. Contact Melvin Pickett, 773-342-6210, mpickett@hpsschanginglives.org.
INSPIRATION CAFE, pantry and soup kitchen at 4554 North Broadway, Suite 207, needs volunteers for food preparation, manual labor, administrative, computer, education, maintenance and special events on mornings, afternoons and evenings every day of the week. Volunteer orientations are twice monthly. Maximum group size: 10. Contact 773-878-0981, ext. 231, volunteer@inspirationcorp.org.
LAKEVIEW PANTRY (EAST SITE), 3831 North Broadway, needs English, Spanish, Russian, Korean and Romanian speaking volunteers Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday mornings and afternoons. Minimum age to volunteer: 18, unless accompanied by an adult. Maximum group size: 2. Contact Erin Stephens, 773-517-4813, erin@lakeviewpantry.org,
LAKEVIEW PANTRY (WEST SITE), 1414 West Oakdale, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for distributing food, manual labor, driving, assisting clients, translating, computer, window display design Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday mornings. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 2. Contact Erin Stephens, 773-517-4813, erin@lakeviewpantry.org
LASALLE SENIOR CENTER, locating 1111 North Wells, Suite 500, is looking for volunteers for food preparation/serving and volunteer drivers. Volunteers can come in for 1-2 hour sessions between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. There is also need for those who are willing to assist in driving a 14-passenger van once for day and evening trips to local grocery and retail stores. Contact Jan Kroeschell, 312-573-8841, jkroeschell@lasallestreetchurch.org.
LESLIE’S PLACE, a shelter at 1014 North Hamlin needs volunteers for preparing meals, driving, assisting clients, Tuesday through Friday. Maximum group size: 2. Contact Leslie Brown, 773- 342-8384, LesliesPl@aol.com.
NEW MOMS, INC., a shelter at 2825 West McLean, needs English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers for distributing food, assisting clients, child care and the staff store every day. Minimum age to volunteer: 16. Maximum group size: 10. Contact Brian Genzink, 773-252-3253, x33, bgenzink@newmomsinc.org.
REST SHELTER, 941 West Lawrence, needs volunteers for food preparation, administrative, medical every day. Minimum age to volunteer: 16. Maximum group size: 15-20. Contact Kari Aosved, 773-784-0909, kaosved@restweb.org
ST. IGNATIUS FOOD PANTRY, 6559 North Glenwood, needs English, Spanish and Russian speaking volunteers for distributing food, assisting clients, serving, preparing meals on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Minimum age to volunteer: 18; Maximum group size: 8. Contact Kathy Morris, 773-764-5936, is@stignatiuschurch.org.
SARAH'S CIRCLE, 4750 North Sheridan, needs volunteers for distributing food, assisting clients, administrative (contact for more opportunities) on weekday afternoons. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 10. Contact Ella Phillips, 773-728-1991, ephillips@sarahs-circle.org.
THE SALVATION ARMY, 1025 West Sunnyside, needs English, Spanish and Polish speaking volunteers for assisting clients, translating, administrative, computer, preparing meals, distributing food on Mondays through Saturdays morning, afternoon and evening. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 1-10. Contact Pamela Harrell, 773-271-6182, Colleen_Michaud@usc.salvationarmy.org.
UNITED CHURCH OF ROGERS PARK, a soup kitchen at 1545 West Morse, needs volunteers for food preparation, distributing food, setting up dining room, serving meals to guests, washing dishes and other cleaning task on Sunday evenings. Minimum age to volunteer: 10. Maximum group size: 10-15. Contact United Church of Rogers Park at 773-761-2500 or ucrp8021@sbcglobal.net. Note: Holiday needs are met. Would be happy to schedule time for 2010.
VITAL BRIDGES, grocery and learning center offers volunteers diverse roles in food distribution and stocking, home delivery of meals, assisting clients, administrative support and literacy/computer tutoring. A brief one-to-one orientation will be provided. Minimum age to volunteer: 16. Groups welcome, subject to schedule and group size. Contact T. Willaims, 312-948-1126, twilliams@vitalbridges.org
South Side
CANAAN M.B.C. FOOD PANTRY, located at 6659 S. Harvard Ave., needs volunteers for packing and distributing food mornings and afternoons on Fridays and Saturdays. Maximum group size: 13. Contact Claire Callahan, 312-523-3484.
CHICAGO YOUTH CENTER -- ELLIOTT DONNELLEY, a Kids Cafe at 3947 South Michigan, needs volunteers for mentoring. Minimum age to volunteer: 21. Maximum group size: TBD. Contact Bettye Gill, 773-268-3815, bettye.gill@chicagoyouthcenters.org
CHICAGO YOUTH CENTER -- REBECCA CROWN, a Kids Cafe at 7601 South Phillips, needs volunteers for manual labor, classroom programs and administrative work. Hours are flexible during the workday. Minimum age to volunteer: 21. Contact Eddie Wilson, 773-731-0444, eddie.wilson@chicagoyouthcenters.org.
EPIPHANY CHURCH, a food pantry at 2524 South Keeler Avenue, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for food preparation, distributing food, assisting clients and maintenance Monday mornings and afternoons. Minimum age to volunteer: 14; Maximum group size: 12. Contact Pierre Balthazar, 773-521-1112, pmbalthazar@yahoo.com
GETHSEMANE C.O.G.I.C., a food pantry at 6959 South Elizabeth, needs volunteers for food distribution on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Maximum group size: 5. Minimum age: 24 years old. Contact N. Fondren, 773-391-1203 or fondren@peoplepc.com
HYDE PARK KENWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY, 1169 East 56th Street and 5600 South Woodlawn needs volunteers for distributing food and filling food bags, Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Minimum age to volunteer: 10; Maximum group size: 7. Contact Jan Deckenbach, 773-702-7034, jdeckenbach@press.uchicago.edu.
HYDE PARK S.D.A. CHURCH, a soup kitchen at 4608 South Drexel Boulevard, needs volunteers Tuesdays and Wednesdays for preparing meals, distributing food, assisting clients. Maximum group size: 10. Contact Vickie Wilson, 773-288-0429, MissVickieW@hotmail.com.
THE LIVING ROOM CAFE, 806 East 64th, needs volunteers for food preparation, manual labor, administrative, computer, education, maintenance and special events on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. Minimum age to volunteer: 14; Maximum group size: 15. Contact 773-878-0981, ext. 231, volunteer@inspirationcorp.org.
MAPLE/MORGAN PARK COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY, located at 110th Place and Longwood Drive in Morgan Park, needs volunteers to bag and distribute food on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. A van driver also is needed once or twice a month. Adults preferred. Contact Matt Taylor at 312-649-0827 on weekdays and 773-445-6903 on evenings and weekends or via e-mail at matt@taylorfax.com.
MIRACLE DEL CENTER CHURCH, 401 East Kensington Street, Chicago, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for food preparation and manual labor on Friday and Saturday mornings. Maximum group size: 10. Minimum age to volunteer is 25. Contact Mr. and Mrs. Glispie, 708-308-3251 or 708-957-4069.
OPERATION BLESSING - SOUTH, a food pantry located at 4330 Midlothian Turnpike in Crestwood is looking for computer savvy volunteers to assist with administrative tasks and grant writing on Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Maximum group size: 2. Contact Roy Hanson at 708-597-6326.
PROJECT VIDA, food pantry at 2757 South Keeler, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for distributing food, administrative, computer and grant writing afternoons and evenings on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Minimum age to volunteer: 14; Maximum group size: 5. Contact Alejandra Pena, 773-277-2291, apena@projectvida.org .
SALEM HOUSE, food pantry at 7359 South Prairie, needs volunteers for distributing food, driving and packaging bags on weekday mornings and afternoons. Contact Lynda P. Ross, 773-873-3400 or danette.wade@lssi.org
THE SALVATION ARMY MIDWAY CITADEL, 5036 West 47th Street, needs volunteers Monday through Saturday to assist during mornings, afternoons and evenings. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Contact Colleen Michaud, 773-838-8005, pam_harrell@usc.salvationarmy.org.
THIRD SUNDAY FOOD PANTRY, a pantry and shelter at 5443 South Washtenaw, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for food preparation, distributing food, assisting clients, translation, crowd control and preparing and distributing food bags. Minimum age to volunteer: 21; Maximum group size: 10. Contact Elizabeth Arreola, 773-419-6141, larreola271@hotmail.com.
VITAL BRIDGES, grocery and learning center offer volunteers diverse roles in food distribution and stocking, home delivery of meals, assisting clients, administrative support, and literacy/computer tutoring. A brief one-to-one orientation will be provided. Minimum age to volunteer: 16; groups welcome, subject to schedule and group size. Contact T. Willaims, 312-948-1126, twilliams@vitalbridges.org.
WILL FEED KIDS CAFE, 6455 South Peoria, needs volunteers for food preparation, distributing food, manual labor, driving, assisting clients, administrative, computer, grant writing, education, medical, maintenance, gardening, arts and crafts on mornings and afternoons, Tuesday through Friday. Minimum age to volunteer: 10 (with chaperone); Maximum group size: none (negotiable). Contact name: Anita Dominique, 773-677-7273, adominique2@hotmail.com.
West Side
AGAPE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, a Kids Cafe at 3355 West Jackson, needs volunteers in the following areas: driving, assisting clients, administrative, education, recreational activities; Monday through Friday, afternoons and evenings. Minimum age to volunteer: 19; Maximum group size: 20. Contact Anibal Vega, 773-265-0150 or ajvega@comcast.net.
BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES needs volunteers to prepare and serve meals daily (Dinner: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Breakfast: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) at either of two homeless shelter locations. The West Side facility for homeless men is located at 402 N. St. Louis and the West Side facility for homeless women is located at 3330 W. Carroll. Individuals or groups are welcome. Onsite training is provided. A commitment to regular service is expected. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 12. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 773-722-1144 ext. 271 or volunteer@breakthroughministries.com.
DEBORAH'S PLACE, 2822 West Jackson, 1530/1532 North Sedgwick, 1456 West Oakdale provides housing and supportive services for women who are homeless. Volunteers are needed for food preparation, activities and workshops in the Learning Centers, cleaning projects, and more. Minimum age to volunteer is 16. Maximum group size is 10. Contact Sarah Letson, 773-638-6579 or sletson@deborahsplace.org. Web site: http://www.deborahsplace.org/volunteer.
FRANCISCAN HOUSE OF MARY & JOSEPH, a shelter at 2715 West Harrison, needs volunteers to serve soup and sandwiches to homeless guests from 7:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Maximum group size: 3. Contact Diana Faust, 773-278-6724. Web site: www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm
FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS PARK, a food pantry at 5701 West Jackson Boulevard, is looking for volunteers to assist with cleaning and organizing the pantry space each Friday after their distribution from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Minimum age to volunteer: 18; Maximum group size: 5. Contact Marjorie Cobbs, 773-762-1663.
STAR OF DAVID FOOD PANTRY, located at 3849 West Chicago Avenue, is looking for volunteers to assist with distributing food, assisting clients, administrative tasks, and grant writing. Volunteers 17 years and older are needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Maximum group size: 10 persons. Languages needed: English and Spanish. Contact Pastor Jimmie Walker at 773-265-6980 or e-mail at starofdavidcogic@aol.com
VITAL BRIDGES, grocery and learning center at 4121 West Lake Street offers English and Spanish speaking diverse roles in food distribution and stocking, assisting clients, administrative support, and literacy/computer tutoring. A brief one-to-one orientation will be provided. Minimum age to volunteer: 16; groups welcome, subject to schedule and group size. Contact T. Willaims, 312-948-1126, twilliams@vitalbridges.org.
North Suburbs
CAMPUS KITCHENS PROJECT AT NORTHWESTERN, a soup kitchen at 2245 Sheridan Road, Evanston, needs volunteers to prepare meals, distribute food, drive and assist clients; Monday through Thursday, afternoons and evenings. Maximum group size: 8-10. Contact Jonathan BW Kaufman, 847-491-6925 or JKaufman@campuskitchens.org.
CEDA NORTHWEST, a community action agency and food pantry at 1300 West Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect, needs English, Spanish and Russian speaking volunteers for distributing food, assisting clients, translating, driving, administrative every morning and afternoon. Maximum group size: 10-15. Contact James J. Shatkus, 847-392-2532, jamesshatkus@sbcglobal.net; Mary Ann Geary, 847-392-2332.
EBENEZER AME SOUP KITCHEN, at 1109 Emerson Street in Evanston, needs volunteers for kitchen reorganizing, moving furniture and cleaning on Thursday mornings and afternoons. Contact Justin Martin, 847-328-1707.
THE SALVATION ARMY, food pantry at 609 West Dempster in Des Plaines, needs English-, Russian-, and Spanish-speaking volunteers for distributing food and driving Tuesdays. Maximum group size: 15. Minimum age to volunteer: 16, 18 to drive. Contact Constance Marquis, 847- 981-9111, ext. 102, or connie_marquis@usc.salvationarmy.org.
VITAL BRIDGES' grocery and learning center offers volunteers diverse roles in food distribution and stocking, home delivery of meals, assisting clients, administrative support, and literacy/computer tutoring. A brief one-to-one orientation will be provided. Minimum age to volunteer: 16; groups welcome, subject to schedule and group size. Contact T. Willaims, 312-948-1126, twilliams@vitalbridges.org.
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South Suburbs
CRISIS CENTER FOR SOUTH SUBURBIA, a shelter in Tinley Park, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for driving and maintenance on Thursday mornings. Minimum age to volunteer: 21. Contact Jennifer Wick, 708-429-7255, jwick@crisisctr.org.
LIVING WORD OUTREACH FULL GOSPEL CHURCH, located at 400 West 14th Street in Chicago Heights, is looking for volunteers to help with food distribution, client assistance, maintenance and manual labor on every 4th Tuesday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as throughout the month of December. Minimum age to volunteer: 13; Maximum group size: N/A; Languages needed: English and Spanish. Contact Sunandha Taylor, 708-755-7634, taylor1332@hotmail.com.
MILLENNIUM MINISTRIES PANTRY, 15246 Marshfield in Harvey is looking for volunteers to help unload trucks on the second Friday of every month from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Minimum age to volunteer: 18. Contact Carolyn Burgess, 708-596-5346 (work) or 708-704-3098 (cell).
MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH/ELSIE’S PANTRY, 8601 West 107th Street in Palos Hills is looking for volunteers to assist with distributing food, shelving food, manual labor, assisting clients, and grant writing. Volunteers are needed Wednesday in the fourth week of November (20-26), the third week of December (11-17), and the fourth week of December (25-31) in both the morning and afternoon. Minimum age is 15, Maximum group size: 3 persons. Languages needed: English and occasionally Polish. Contact Beth Heinrich at 708-598-4434.
West Suburbs
CATHOLIC CHARITIES-WEST SUBURBAN SERVICES, a food pantry at 1400 South Austin Boulevard, Cicero, needs English and Spanish speaking volunteers for distributing food, manual labor, driving, assisting clients, translating, education/tutoring and administrative. Monday through Friday, mornings, afternoons and evenings. Minimum age to volunteer: middle school/junior high; Maximum group size: 20. Contact Julia Simon, 708-329-4023, jsimon@catholiccharities.net.
GOD LOVES LITTLE CHILDREN DAYCARE, at 4731 West Butterfield Road and 20 West 381 Stone, needs volunteers to prepare and serve food on weekdays from 9 a.m./10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and to assist clients and help with office work on weekdays from 9 a.m./10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at either of two locations. Contact Rose Hilson, 708-547-6817.
VITAL BRIDGES' grocery and learning center offers volunteers diverse roles in food distribution and stocking, home delivery of meals, assisting clients, administrative support, and literacy/computer tutoring. A brief one-to-one orientation will be provided. Minimum age to volunteer: 16; groups welcome, subject to schedule and group size. Contact T. Willaims, 312-948-1126, twilliams@vitalbridges.org.
