Making A Difference Why Should I Volunteer This Year?...Page 6 ...

Making a Difference
Volunteering
Around Chicago
By Jennifer
Knop
I
For those that prefer to pick and choose when they have time, there are two great organizations that allow you to
SPSS, Inc.
If you’ve been inspired by some of the volunteer stories, and are now ready to make a difference, the first step is to
figure out where to begin. Luckily, in the Chicago area there are a lot of options!
do just that. The first is Chicago Cares (www.chicagocares.org) which publishes a monthly calendar of volunteer
opportunities that span many different focus areas and occur at a variety of times to suit even the busiest schedule.
Another option is One Brick (www.onebrick.org) that shares a similar vision in asking volunteers to commit to only
one volunteer activity at a time. You can volunteer as often or as seldom as your schedule allows.
If you’re looking to make more of a lasting commitment to volunteering, the first step is to figure out where your
interests lie. Do you enjoy gardening? Check out the opportunities with the Chicago Botanic Garden (www.chicagobotanic.org)
or The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has options spanning the natural world (www.naturemuseum.org).
And speaking of wildlife, for those that would prefer to involve their pets in their volunteering activities, Paws for
Patients (www.paws4patients.org) has opportunities with hospitals and senior centers for pet therapy or helping
children with reading problems. These activities require training. If you’d rather help animals without involving
your own, check out local animal shelters such as PAWS Chicago (www.pawschicago.org) or the Anti-Cruelty Soci-
ety (www.anticruelty.org) for options.
Another option is to help hungry families through organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository (www.
chicagosfoodbank.org), or through a local food pantry such as the Lakeview Food Pantry (www.lakeviewpantry.org).
For anyone that’s interested in picking up a hammer, paintbrush, or even a shovel, to help a family build their home,
you don’t have to travel out of state to help. Habitat for Humanity (www.windycityhabitat.org) has projects in Chicago
that need volunteers as well.
If sports are your thing, there’s an event almost every weekend that could use your help. From setting up tents to
passing out water or handing out goodie bags, check out the race calendar compiled by the Chicago Area Run-
ners Association at www.cararuns.org and match up your free time with a race that benefits a cause that means
something to you.
Alternatively, there are hundreds of local chapters and charities that hold fundraisers throughout the year. A quick
online search of your cause will most likely direct you to a website with volunteer opportunities at special events
or in the charity’s office, all depending on how much time you have to commit. Some examples include National
Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.msillinois.org), American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), Susan Komen Race
for the Cure (www.komenchicago.org), Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.leukemia.org), AIDS Foundation of
Chicago (www.aidschicago.org), and the list goes on.
Finally, don’t forget your local library as a resource for volunteer opportunities as well. Both the library itself and
reading and teaching ESL classes need volunteers to make their programs work (www.chipublib.org).
Hopefully this list is enough to get you started in finding a way to give back to your local community.
18 news & views | september-october 2008 www.mpicac.org