Chicago is not only a city of neighborhoods – it’s a city of neighbors.
At United Way of Metro Chicago, we’re in the business of meeting our neighbors across the city and suburbs. We understand that people living in our communities of focus often know better than anyone what their communities need, so we dedicate our resources to helping our agency partners meet their goals.
This extends to our volunteering. We know that volunteers can make a big difference for cash-strapped non-profit organizations, but we also know that preparing for a volunteer’s arrival or being available to answer their questions requires staff capacity. That’s why we ask our agencies to tell us when and how they can use volunteer assistance in order to help them find the support they need.
Friendly Faces
That’s where you come in!
As a volunteer with United Way of Metro Chicago, you will have not only have the opportunity to serve your great neighbors, but you’ll cross paths with them, too.
Maybe you’ll run into Principal Michael Hinton at Hoyne Elementary School in South Chicago at a United for the Holidays event. Principal Hinton cares deeply about his students and getting them the resources they need, especially when their needs include basic items such as winter coats and a warm meal. His hospitality extends through his staff and students, all of whom welcomed our volunteers—often with hugs—into their school.
Or you could help this father of four from Brighton Park access a tax refund, freeing up money to meet his family’s needs. Last year, he accessed free tax preparation assistance through the Center for Economic Progress’s VITA program. When he learned of his refund through the EITC tax credit, he thanked the volunteers with quiet dignity and genuine gratefulness.
Sometimes our neighbors are children, like the pre-school students who attend Carole Robertson Center for Learning in North Lawndale. They loved nothing more than having their faces painted at a summer carnival hosted in the Center’s backyard, which was made possible thanks to the creativity and steady hand of volunteers.
Give back today!
If you’re ready to start meeting your neighbors, check out our new Volunteer Calendar.
We created this calendar to allow our agency partners to tell us about their volunteer needs and to give potential volunteers a clear picture of how they can help their communities. There are opportunities for groups and individuals at agencies in the city and the suburbs. Some need volunteers to support a one-time project, while others need people who can commit to come back week after week.
All of our opportunities provide volunteers with the chance to meet their neighbors and serve the communities in greatest need. We hope you’ll come out and start meeting your neighbors, too!