Community Organizations

American Red Cross
(312) 729-6128
Contact: Juanita Tipton
volunteer@chicagoredcross.org
Helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Nearly seventy different volunteer opportunities including assisting with Blood Drives; responding to local or national disasters; providing shelter, food and clothing to people displaced by a residential fire.

Anti-Cruelty Society
(312) 644-8338
An organization that cares for homeless animals, educates the public on responsible pet ownership, and provides homes for animals.

Association House of Chicago
(773) 772-7170
Contact: Alexandra Forter
1116 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
Association House has served as a Humboldt Park community resource since 1899, providing quality social services to a multi-cultural community, fostering community development and leadership through education and advocacy, and offering social, cultural, and recreational activities for people of all ages. Volunteer opportunities are available in tutoring/mentoring, crafts, literacy, cooking, sports, and special events.

Best Buddies
(312) 828-9313
Contact: Murphy Turner
An organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
(312) 427-0637
Volunteers are needed to mentor children ages 7-13 from single parent families and foster homes. Volunteers are also needed to participate in various fundraising and special events.
Mentoring time requirement: 2-4 times per month, 1 year commitment.

Bottomless Closet
(312) 527-9664
445 N. Wells, Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60610
Provides women assistance with clothing for job interviews. Volunteers are trained to work directly with clients to prepare them for the workplace or to assist with clothing drives.

Carole Robertson Center for Learning
(312) 243-7300
Contact: Alberto Sepulveda
2020 W. Roosevelt, Chicago, IL 60608
CRCL's mission is to nurture and challenge children and youth and to support and strengthen family and community life. Over the past 23 years, the Center has grown to become a comprehensive social service agency that serves over 500 children and their families in two West Side communities. Volunteer opportunities are available in the Tutor/Mentor program, Intergenerational program, Youth Mentor program, and various special events.

Catholic Charities
(312) 655-7322
126 N. Desplaines St., Chicago, IL 60661
Provides over 160 programs to the needy throughout the Chicagoland area. Myriad of volunteer opportunities of helping families and children, seniors, assisting with basic human needs and housing.

Chicago Cares
(312) 780-0800
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60606
An organization that provides opportunities for individuals and businesses to improve the Chicago community through group volunteer programs.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
(312) 435-4548
1325 S. Wabash, Suite 205, Chicago, IL 60605
CCH, Chicago's premiere advocacy group for the homeless, has grown to more than 800 organizational and 20,000 individual members. CCH is organized to create, research, and implement programs to reverse the severe decline in affordable housing, develop initiatives to create jobs that pay a living wage, and address the problem of homelessness in metropolitan Chicago. Volunteer opportunities are available for special events and on an on-going basis.

Chicago Urban League
(773) 285-5800
4510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653
The League's mission is to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation and to work for the achievement of equal opportunity and parity for African-Americans, other minorities, and the poor in every phase of life. Volunteer opportunities are available in the League's three focus areas: education, economic development, and community empowerment.

Chicago Youth Programs
Volunteers needed to tutor children from Cabrini Green at Northwestern Law School. Also opportunities for teen mentoring and career exploration.

City Year Chicago
(312) 464-9899
City Year is an AmeriCorps national service organization that unites a diverse group of 17-24 year olds for a demanding year of full-time community service and civic engagement. City Year's special events include a Serve-a-thon in late October, a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Day, and Camp City Year, a week-long program for Chicago public school students during their spring vacation in April.

Deborah’s Place
(773) 722-5080
2822 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612
Provides food, shelter and supportive services for homeless women. Volunteers prepare and serve meals, provide transportation and assistance at the Learning Center.

Gilda's Club Chicago
(312) 464-9900
Contact: Laura Jane Hyde
537 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610
Provides a non-medical environment where men, women, and children with cancer, as well as survivors, families, and friends, can meet and build community. Many volunteer opportunities are available, including outreach, administrative support, and special programs for children.

Greater Chicago Food Depository
(773) 247-FOOD;
GCFD, located near Midway Airport on Chicago's southwest side, is a not-for-profit food distribution center working to feed hungry people in the Chicagoland area. GCFD has volunteer opportunities for individuals or small groups, and with advance notice, groups of 50 or more people at a time can volunteer for three hour shifts on weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays.

Habitat for Humanity
Pilsen/Little Village HFH: (312) 666-7989
Uptown HFH: (773) 465-1951
Westside HFH: (773) 638-1516
HFH is a not-for-profit Christian based organization which builds and remodels homes throughout the Chicagoland area. Call for volunteer opportunities.

Horizons for Youth
(312) 627-9031
703 W. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60661
An organization dedicated to creating opportunities for and building relationships with children from low-income families. Volunteers needed for Big Sibling Program and children enrichment outings.

Inspiration Café
(773) 878-0981 ext. 203
4554 N. Broadway, Suite 207, Chicago, IL 60640
A restaurant-style soup kitchen located in Uptown neighborhood. Volunteers help prepare and serve food.

Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
(312) 346-6700
E-mail: tov@jug.org
30 South Wells, Chicago, IL 60606
The Tikkun Olam Volunteer (TOV) Network is JUF’s connection point for people who want to donate their time to help others in need. There are a myriad of opportunities, including tutoring and community work.

John Howard Association
(312) 782-1901
300 W. Adams, Suite 617, Chicago, IL 60606
Watch dog organization for prisons and jails in Illinois. Volunteers needed to participate in monitoring activities.

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Contact: Julia Capizzi, julcap@mercyhome.org
A long-term residential home for troubled children of ages 11 through 21. Volunteer mentors and tutors are needed.

Metropolitan Tenants Organization
(773) 292-4980
Volunteers are needed to staff the Tenants Rights Hotline. Volunteers educate and empower tenants to assert their legal rights under the law.

The Night Ministry
(773) 784-9000
4711 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
A 24-hour youth emergency shelter for homeless and runaway youth, located just south of Wrigley Field. Volunteers are needed to assist with outreach program, mentoring residents and providing administrative help.

The Port Ministries
(773) 778-5955
P.O. Box 09168, 5013 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60609
Volunteers needed to help in soup kitchen, bread truck, shelters and other social service outreach.

Volunteer Clearinghouses on the web:
Idealist.org
Volunteer Connection - Northwestern
Volunteer Match - Chicago
Illinois Legal Aid