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Enjoy the nice weather we’re being graced with and help clean up your city! Another Pitch In For The Parks, the cleanup initiative from The Chicago Parks Foundation to promote clean, public green spaces for everyone, is next Saturday, Sept. 11 at Jackson Park. Volunteers will be provided gloves and bags to pick up trash and debris around the park. They’re encouraged to bring their own sunscreen, water and insect repellent. Face masks are required. For more information on how to help out, visit the Chicago Cares website.
Do Good #263: Rogers Park Mutual Aid
Rogers Park Free Store is a grassroots mutual aid collective located in northeast Rogers Park, near the Morse Red Line stop, providing items to those in need at no cost. The collective supports the Rogers Park community and beyond, and is looking for donations including winter coats, shoes, socks, towels, children’s clothing, car seats, food, snacks and more. More information can be found consolidated on their Linktree.
Do Good #262: Clean Up Washington Park
The next installment of The Chicago Parks Foundation’s Pitch In For The Parks initiative is Saturday, Aug. 21, at Washington Park. This volunteer clean-up effort strives to provide clean, public green spaces for residents all over the city, and volunteers can expect to pick up trash and debris with provided gloves and bags. Face masks are required, and participants are encouraged to bring their own water, bug repellent and sunscreen. For more information and proper attire, visit the volunteer webpage.
Do Good #261: Hyde Park Kenwood Food Distribution
Help out Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Hyde Park Kenwood Food Pantry on Saturday, Aug. 21 as they distribute food to residents of Hyde Park, Kenwood and Washington Park neighborhoods. Volunteers can expect to assist in organizing, packing and distributing food. That includes carrying boxes of food up and down stairs, helping recipients pick out food items, carrying grocery bags and more. Specific details and volunteer requirements can be found on Chicago Cares.
Do Good #260: Street Love Bike Ride
Boxing Out Negativity is committed to preventing violence and bringing peace in the North Lawndale neighborhood by uplifting young people. Their second annual bike ride for peace, Street Love Ride, takes place this weekend, and they’re looking for volunteers to help set up! On Friday, Aug. 20, and Saturday, Aug. 21, volunteers can help with decorating, food distribution and more before the ride. On Sunday, Aug. 22, duties include cleaning up and distributing post-ride refreshments. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, and can sign up on the Chicago Cares website.
Do Good #259: Sarah's Circle
Sarah’s Circle is a nonprofit organization located in Uptown dedicated to ending homelessness and combating poverty among women. They are always looking for help and have a variety of volunteer opportunities including providing meals, sack lunches and toiletry kits or hosting a donation drive.
Do Good #258: Resilience & Our Music My Body
Founded in 1974, Resilience is an independent nonprofit organization committed to empowering victims of sexual assault and ending sexual violence. They have opportunities for short-term or regular volunteering and you can apply to help out on their website. They also helped create Our Music My Body, an initiative to foster awareness around sexual assault and harassment in the music scene, in collaboration with domestic abuse advocate organization Between Friends. Our Music My Body is also looking for volunteers and has a separate online application.
Do Good #257: Scholar Slide By Grocery Delivery
From June to September 2020, Delacreme Scholars’ mutual aid program The Scholar Slide By paid for and delivered groceries to families in Chicago’s South and West sides. This month Delacreme Scholars is bringing back the program and needs volunteers this weekend, on Aug. 7 and 8. Volunteers can sign up via their website, and you can email contact@delacremescholars.org for more information.
Do Good #256: The Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is always looking for volunteers to help sort, repack and distribute non-perishable food items for those in need across the Chicagoland area. For more information on how you can pitch in and a calendar of volunteer opportunities, click here.
Do Good #255: Promote Literacy With Open Books
Nonprofit Open Books promotes literacy resources, books and more to those in need and is currently welcoming new volunteers. Duties include shelving books, one-on-one coaching with 2nd and 3rd graders and giving books to families at community events. To apply as a volunteer, fill out this form. More information can be found on their website.
Do Good #254: Get Down To The Roots With FarmWorks
Chicago Cares partnered with Heartland Alliance to support FarmWorks, an urban farm in the East Garfield Park community dedicated to combating poverty. On Tuesdays in July and August at 5 p.m., volunteers will help create neighborhood green spaces by weeding, shoveling soil and gravel, wheelbarrowing materials and planting seedlings. More information on how to get involved can be found here.
Do Good #253: Become a Crisis Counselor
Crisis Text Line, the free 24/7 text line for people in crisis in the U.S., is looking for volunteers to become remote Crisis Counselors for four hours a week, with their greatest need from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. CST. Training is free and takes a total of 30 hours, and applicants are expected to commit to volunteer 200 hours in the span of one year. Applicants must be 18 or older and have a social security number. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
If you are currently in a crisis, text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor at any time.
Do Good #252: Lincoln Park Community Services
Lincoln Park Community Services needs food to support the individuals staying at their two shelters. Sign up for a meal shift, email volunteer@lpcschicago.org. To make a monetary donation to support a meal, click here. You can also volunteer to be a virtual financial literary coach or help with job interview prep and resumes by emailing Jameela at volunteer@lpcschicago.org.
Do Good #251: Ravenswood Community Services
Ravenswood Community Services is asking for donations of food, grocery bags and hygiene items. Drop-off hours at their entrance at 1757 W Wilson are Tuesdays from 12-3 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m., as well as Thursdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Click here for more information on accepted items. Monetary donations are also accepted here.
Do Good #250: Christmas Tree Recycling
The Chicago Park District will be accepting Christmas trees for recycling through January 20. The trees can be dropped off at any one of 25 locations citywide where they’ll be turned into free mulch for Chicago residents. For recycling locations and more information click here.
Do Good #249: Food Trucks Unite
Do Good #248: New Little Village Food Pantry
Faith-based nonprofit New Life Centers will open a new full-time food pantry at a former corner store in 2021, at 2701 S. Lawndale Ave. in Little Village. The pantry, which will be named El Mercado, comes in the wake of food shortages and unemployment crises hitting the neighborhood. New Life Centers has many ways to get involved with food distribution in Little Village and other areas of the city, and they are looking for volunteers – you can find more information here.
As Chicagoans continue to face hunger during the pandemic, a new Little Village food pantry aims to help: "The need is massive." https://t.co/utPp3inc6S pic.twitter.com/hUu5iiNK3R
— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) January 1, 2021
Do Good #247: Salvation Army Volunteers
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to package and distribute meals, donate coats and toys, and ring that famous Red Bell. Find opportunities near you all over the city here.
Do Good #246: Gifts For Seniors
Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly are looking for volunteers to deliver meals and gifts to seniors on Christmas day. Sign up here.
Do Good #245: Pilsen Pantry
Pilsen Food Pantry has opportunities for volunteers to help with food repacking, distribution and clothing sorting all through the holiday season. Find out more here
Do Good #244: Winter Clothing Items Drive
Doveland Cooperative is hosting a warm clothing drive for Uptown and Buena Park throughout the month of December. More information and a list of accepted items can be found here. Monetary donations via Venmo are also being accepted.
Do Good #243: Meals For Those In Need
Fight2Feed is looking for volunteers to help prep, cook, and deliver meals to those in need from their COVID-19 safe kitchens. Sign up to volunteer here
Do Good #242: Baby Item Donations
Help kids and families in need by donating new or gently used baby items to Share Our Spare. You can help out by donating money or items you don’t need. Accepted items include blankets, diapers, baby clothes, bottles and more. Click here for a full list of accepted items.
Do Good #241: Handmade Greeting Cards
Interested in creating handmade greeting cards this holiday season? Put your artistic abilities to use with these two greeting card drives! Heartland Alliance is organizing handmade greeting cards to send out to Chicago seniors in isolation during the pandemic. Cardz for Kidz will hand-deliver cards to kids in the hospital across the globe.
To take part in Heartland Alliance’s greeting card drive, send your uplifting, handwritten cards, letters or drawings to:
Resident Services – Cards
5700 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60660
For Cardz for Kidz, send your cards to:
Cardz for Kidz!
323 East Wacker Drive #11
Chicago, IL, 60601
We know the #cards are for the patients and families, but we still think some of them could be our #MondayMotivation! Please take a second to read this card! #encouragement pic.twitter.com/MvEt40b4yD
— Cardz for Kidz (@cardzforkidz) November 30, 2020
Do Good #240: Mask Makers Wanted
Do you need access to free sanitary face masks, or want to spend your time making them for others? Chicago Mask Makers is always accepting volunteers to sew cloth face masks for donation to those in need.
If you want to help sew masks, click here.
If you are a health care worker in need of masks, click here.
If you can’t sew but want to donate supplies or help in other ways, click here.
Do Good #239: Celebrating 50 Years of Lakeview Pantry!
Lakeview Pantry celebrates 50 years of service with a virtual event streamed from Wrigley Field tonight. Get tickets here. You can also sign up to volunteer at the pantry any day by hitting this link.
We’ve been looking forward to tonight all year! ✨ Who’s joining us for our Fighting Hunger, #FeedingHope Virtual Event tonight at 7pm? Let us know and join the conversation by using #FeedingHopeFund and #LVP50! https://t.co/JBQBZFdKij 🎊💙 #EndHunger pic.twitter.com/bivQcw7Fnh
— Lakeview Pantry (@LakeviewPantry) November 12, 2020
Do Good #238: GoodKidsMadCity
GoodKidsMadCity is interested in knowing what makes a community safe, resilient and secure. They are asking residents on the South and West sides of Chicago what things their neighborhoods need in order to have a higher quality of life and more safety. Fill out the survey here.
Please #Chicago residents only fill out our GKMC safety survey! Thank you! We keep us safe!https://t.co/PKP8LRGsJD
— GoodKidsMadCity (@GKMC18) November 10, 2020
Do Good #237: Food Distribution Network
Windy City Performing Arts will be collecting donations of toiletries, clothing and other essential items to benefit the five organizations that make up the Chicago Youth Mutual Aid Effort. Drop-offs are at Summerdale and Clark on Nov. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. More info here.
We will be collecting toiletries, cleaning supplies and other essential items for the @ChicagoYouthMutualAid Chicago Youth Mutual Aid (CYMA) benefitting @AssataDaughters, @ChiFreeSchool, Circles and Ciphers, Street Youth Rise Up, and @WeSayYEPP. See the flyer for more details! pic.twitter.com/2t39iUY61G
— WindyCitySings (@WindyCitySings) November 12, 2020
Do Good #236: Food Distribution Network
Uptown and Buena Park Solidarity Network operate a once weekly food distribution network centralized at Sheridan and Montrose. Sign up to become a distributor here
Do Good #235: Community Fridge
The Love Fridge is a mutual aid group that places community refrigerators around the city. Sign up to help manage a fridge here, volunteer pick up larger donations here, or help out behind the screen with design and outreach here.
Do Good #234: Vitrual Behind-the-Scenes Uptown Tour
Virtual tour and fundraiser “Uptown Gems” will give residents a unique view of the Uptown neighborhood’s (sometimes hidden) gems. The tour will take attendees to behind-the-scenes areas of places like the Aragon Ballroom, Baton Show Lounge, Montrose Bird Sanctuary, Graceland Cemetery and more! The hour-long virtual event takes place from 8-9 p.m. Thursday Oct. 22, but ticket holders can rewatch for up to a week after.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Money raised will go toward helping local Uptown businesses. Find more info about the event here!
The Uptown Gems virtual tour and fundraiser will showcase the neighborhood's unique spots. https://t.co/MuEpie0ILE pic.twitter.com/Y5Nhyw1gIY
— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) October 20, 2020
Do Good #233: Belmont Craigan Wellness Fair
Belmont Craigan residents can get their flu shot, get COVID tested, medical advice, referrals, win a $100 gift card and more at a health and wellness fair on Friday Oct. 23 from 3-6 p.m. The fair will take place in Northwest Side Housing Center’s parking lot at 5233 W. Diversey Ave. Free coronavirus testing will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and those getting tested must stay in the designated testing area.
ID and proof of insurance are required to receive a flu shot. Click here for more info!
On Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, #NNHSC #WIC will be participating in Belmont Cragin's Health & Wellness Fair! The fair will take place at Northwest Side Housing Center, located at 5233 W. Diversey Ave, from 3-6 p.m. For more information, please see the official flyers. pic.twitter.com/wxLJfScOBr
— Near North Health (@NearNorth_HSC) October 16, 2020
Do Good #232: Halloween Isn't Cancelled in Andersonville
Local businesses are teaming up to host “Halloween on Catalpa,” a socially-distanced trick-or-treat event with free candy for kids, will be hosted in Andersonville – on Catalpa Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue – from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31. Event hosts are asking families to register ahead of time HERE for a 20-minute “grab and go” time slot to avoid crowding. Day-of walk-ups will not be permitted.
Treats include bags of candy, taffy apples, comics from AlleyCat Comics and samples of pumpkin butter from Twidley Bits, and there are options for gluten-free and allergen-friendly candy bags!
There are still some spots for (costume-optional) volunteers to help control traffic flow during the event. To sign up to volunteer click here!
Do Good #231: Fast & Free COVID Testing
CORE Chicago is offering free COVID-19 mouth-swab testing with results within about 72 hours. Static and mobile locations for the week of October 12 are listed in the graphic below. Static locations offer both walk-up and drive-up services. For more information click here and to pre-register click here.
Do Good #230: Virtual Walk for Awareness
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is holding their Out of the Darkness virtual walk for suicide prevention on Oct. 17. TCSPP encourages participants to choose their own route and distance to promote social distancing. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will also be hosting online activities on Oct. 17 and 18. No registration is required but donations are encouraged. Click here for more information!
The Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk registration page is now live! Register or donate today to help raise awareness and save lives. https://t.co/FRLg1UNBfV#WalkWednesday pic.twitter.com/ani9XYdR3u
— OOTDChicagoland Walk (@AFSPChicago) February 13, 2020
Do Good #289: Groceries for Those In Need
Top Box Foods, in partnership with Chicago Cares, is looking for volunteers to help with food packing on Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in order to bring healthy groceries to communities without easy access to them. For more information or to sign up, click here.
Do Good #288: Voter Outreach From Home
Want to help spread voter awareness without having to leave home? Chicago Cares has partnered with the Board of Elections and social impact organizations to create a multi-week digital Get Out the Vote (GOTV) voter outreach campaign. Dates from Oct. 22 through Nov. 3 are still open for more volunteers. Texts will be sent from a computer software and not from volunteers’ personal phone numbers, and access to a computer is required to help out. Click here to learn more and to sign up!
Do Good #287: Community Art Project
Help create a community mosaic mural in Englewood beginning Friday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Chicago Cares & Green Star Movement! Green Star Movement aims to build teamwork and self esteem skills in individuals while beautifying the neighborhood with public art. This project will take multiple weeks and participants will be given directions on mosaic assembly and installation. Masks are required and other safety precautions will be taken. To sign up or learn more information, click here!
Do Good #286: Young Artists Wanted!
TIP (Teens in the Park) Fest, a large platform for young Chicago artists and musicians to showcase their talents and connect with resources, is going virtual this year. They are looking for dancers, singers, musicians, spoken word artists and more from the ages of 14 to 24 living in Chicago. Winners can receive up to $500!
The deadline to submit audition materials has been extended to Oct. 12, and the festival will be held Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. For more information and to submit audition materials click here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGIKN8AeOT/?igshid=yhf7okg2lxv1
Do Good #285: Parking Lot Dance Class
Avondale dance company PARA.MAR Dance Theater is hosting parking lot performances and classes from Oct. 3-4 at 3319 N. Elston Ave in a series called “kiss.” On both days there will be classes scheduled 10-10:30 a.m. and 2-2:30 p.m., and performances noon-12:45 p.m. and 4-4:45 p.m. Attendance is free, but PARA.MAR is accepting donations. You can RSVP online here.
Do Good #284: Wicker Park Scarecrow Fundraiser
Wicker Park neighborhood leaders are hosting a socially-distanced scarecrow making fundraiser called “Scarecrow Extravaganza” on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a backup date of Oct. 17 in case of rain. Registration is $40 and you can sign up for a time slot here until Oct. 7. Proceeds will be evenly split between neighborhood groups Wicker Park Committee and the Wicker Park Advisory Council. Volunteers are also needed. Learn more about Scarecrow Extravaganza here and find volunteer info here.
Do Good #283: Polling Place Workers Wanted
Looking to help out with the election this year? The Chicago Board of Elections wants to recruit nearly 13,000 paid workers to help with the polls this year, for both early voting (Oct. 1 – Nov. 2) and Election Day (Nov. 3). For adults the deadline to apply to help out on Election Day is Oct. 19, and for high school students aged 16-17 the deadline is Sept. 25. Learn more about how to apply here, and read the article in the Tribe for more info here.
Do Good #282: Save Neighborhood Bars
Rogers Park residents have banded together to raise money for local favorite corner bar Cunneen’s, which has been a staple in the community for nearly 50 years. Monetary donations of $10 or more include a custom Cunneen’s sticker as a thank you gift. You can donate by clicking here.
Do Good #281: Community Counter Volunteers
Community Counter is a volunteer initiative meant to suppress the spread of COVID-19 within the Chicagoland Jewish community. This site allows individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to anonymously give information that will protect their friends and neighbors. Learn more here.
Do Good #280: Voter Registration Day
Loyola Chicago Libraries is offering both in-person and zoom resources for National Voter Registration Day, helping ensure folks are are #voteready. Register here. LM
Do you have questions about voting? Drop into our office hours! We can help provide you with links and other information to get you #VoteReady! A League of Women Voters of Chicago volunteer will be present to offer voter registration advice. Register here: https://t.co/aKJLWA1LBU
— Loyola Chicago Libraries (@LUCLibraries) September 15, 2020
Do Good #279: WERQ LGBTQ Job Fair
Center on Halsted and Brave Space Alliance have teamed up for the annual WERQ LGBTQ Job Fair. This year, the fair will be virtual and has been expanded to two days, Sept.17 and 18. Sign up here.
In partnership w/ @BSAllianceChi ,Center on Halsted’s annual WERQ! LGBTQ Job Fair will be virtual and has been expanded to 2 days, Sept. 17th + 18th. Sign up here: https://t.co/8I4yoifHkJ #LGBTQ #Jobs #JobsDuringCorona #Chicago #jobopportunity pic.twitter.com/TwXzNfMZAv
— Center on Halsted (@CenteronHalsted) August 29, 2020
Do Good #278: Participate In COVID Clinical Trial
The University of Illinois at Chicago is seeking more volunteers of color to take part in their Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial. Find out more here and here.
Illinois' first COVID 19 vaccine trial gets underway Monday at the University of Illinois at Chicago, according to researchers who are partnering with federal scientists and the biotech company Moderna in the race to beat coronavirus. https://t.co/ItQmTQ2lIW
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 24, 2020
Do Good #277: Volunteer as Immigrant Interpreter
The National Immigrant Justice Center is looking for volunteer interpreters, specifically non-Spanish speaking interpreters. Find out more here.
Do Good #276: United Way Chicago
United Way of Metro Chicago brings together businesses, government, nonprofits, and community leaders to deliver funding, resources, and expertise to nonprofit organizations across greater Chicago. By donating, you can help small non-profits grow to subsequently aid the city as a whole. You can donate and learn more about United Way Chicago here. LM
Something powerful happens when people unite around a common goal.
Using decades of fundraising experience and community engagement expertise, we connect advocates, volunteers, donors & local agencies to build a stronger Chicago region. #LIVEUNITED #NationalNonprofitDay pic.twitter.com/szrsslmWR5
— United Way Chicago (@unitedwaychi) August 17, 2020
