GIVING DUPAGE - URGENT VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Nonprofit organizations need your help today! In particular, organizations with a mission focused on housing/homelessness, food security/hunger/meal delivery and seniors are experiencing a large decrease in their regular volunteer base during this time with the pandemic.
Looking for healthy, willing and able-bodied volunteers who will exercise safety & recommended precautions. Some nonprofit organizations may have further guidelines/requirements regarding the vaccination status of volunteers (check with each nonprofit organization).
Please do not volunteer:
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if you are sick now or have been in the past month (even if you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19)
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if you've traveled recently
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if you are a senior citizen or are immunocompromised.
Please err on the side of caution and do not volunteer if you are unsure about clearing these requirements.
Please review the following list of organizations with an increased volunteer need and this page will be updated often. Organizations are listed in alphabetical order and their name links to their profile page at this site.
LIST OF VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
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To help with extra food donations after the storms/tornado: please contact the West Suburban Community Pantry They are looking for food donations and also volunteers to assist with food sorting/stocking. Contact Colleen Loftus, Volunteer Coordinator at cloftus@wscpantry or call 630-948-8135 or contact Loaves & Fishes in Naperville for food donations.
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DuPage Senior Citizens Council needs volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in DuPage County and to call seniors through our Friendly Phone Call service. For information on all our volunteering opportunities, visit www.dupageseniorcouncil.org/volunteering/ or call 630-746-0909.
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Healthcare Professional Emergency Volunteer Program is looking for medically trained individuals to join the fight in Illinois. Individuals that register here may be potentially contacted to work in a hospital surge or alternative housing setting if needed. All MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS can register today at illinoishelps.net.
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ICNA Relief is organizing a Volunteer Task Force to help neighbors in need from the Muslim community. They are looking for volunteers to help with meal doorstep delivery to seniors, health professionals who can help with TeleHealth services, with their helpline, at the Glendale Heights Food Pantry, and other services. Volunteers age 18+ can sign up here.
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Northern Illinois Food Bank is the food bank serving DuPage and surrounding counties. Their programs serve 71,000 people every week and they are looking for 500+ volunteers to help fill current gaps. Volunteers can read descriptions at SolveHungerToday.org/Volunteer and then go to the calendar to sign up for specific date/time/locations with open spots. Questions? Contact Shannon Thompson, Volunteer Services Director at volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org.
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Senior Home Sharing provides residential housing to seniors. They need assistance with seniors at their housing, primarily grocery store trips, pharmacy pickups and meal donations. Contact Rita Brosnan, Executive Director at rbrosnan@seniorhomesharing.org or call 630-201-7080.
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Tri-Town YMCA is looking for over 100 volunteers every single day to deliver of food to our school children that would have otherwise received meals if school was in session. These efforts are being coordinated with Villa Park School District. Volunteers are asked to register using the SIGN UP form where volunteer shifts, dates and times are provided. Questions? Contact them at YMCAvolunteer@tritownymca.org or call 630-629-9622.
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Urgent Drivers Needed! ICP has expanded to parts of DuPage! We are in urgent need of volunteer drivers in DuPage! ICP provides older adults with safe, accompanied transportation to medical appointments, therapies and life-enhancing errands. Our generous donors and a network of kindhearted volunteers allow us to provide these services at no cost to clients. A few hours of your time can make an enormous difference to some of your neighbors.
LIST OF IN-KIND DONATION NEEDS:
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Catholic Charities is looking for donations of these items for their homeless shelter clients at Daybreak Center in Joliet. Please review this list of critical items.
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DuPage County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management is accepting donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Businesses, medical and nursing schools, and residents can donate unused PPE items - masks, gowns, gloves, eye protection, face shields and disinfecting surface wipes. Complete the DONATION FORM and contact eoc.logistics@dupageco.org for further questions.
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DuPage PADS is looking for donations of these items for homeless clients. Please review this list of critical items.
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People's Resource Center in Wheaton is requesting donations of items including food, baby products (formula, wipes, diapers), paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissue) and household items (cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer). If you can offer a donation, please contact Debbie at ddudek@peoplesrc.org.
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Serenity House is looking enlist companies who can donate sealed sandwiches & prepared meals to over 100 residents at their counseling center. If you are a company who can donate sandwiches, please call Mark Buschbacher, Executive Director, at 630-253-8435 to coordinate donation delivery.
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There is a severe decline in the availability of blood. Blood donations are vital during times of crisis, so please DONATE BLOOD today! Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has DuPage locations (contact info for Aurora, Bloomingdale, Naperville, Westmont and Winfield) ready to receive your generous donation - read about additional safety protocols they have put in place to ensure for blood donations and please schedule an appointment first.
LIST OF REMOTE/VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
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ICNA Relief is organizing a Volunteer Task Force and are looking for virtual volunteers to help with well-being phone calls to neighbors in the Muslim community. Volunteers age 18+ can sign up here.
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Consider this random act of kindness and something fun to do with the kids at home - send a handwritten cards, letter or drawing/painting of support to senior centers, retirement communities to let seniors know we haven't forgotten about them (please follow all safety guidelines & wash hands with soap before writing notecards). Search for senior or retirement centers online to find a facility near you.
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Say THANK YOU TO FIRST RESPONDERS - send a decorated notecard or letter of support to thank our first responders - nurses, physicians and all healthcare providers! Send your notecard to local hospitals ATTN: All Healthcare Workers. List of area hospitals - Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital (3815 Highalnd Ave, Downers Grove, 60515), Edward-Elmhurst (155 E. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst, 60126 or 801 S. Washington Street, Naperville, 60540), Northwestern Medicine at Central DuPage Hospital (25 N. Winfield Road, Winfield, 60190). (please follow all safety guidelines & wash hands with soap before writing notecards)
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If you're out for a walk, please take a plastic bag, wear gloves and pickup trash in your neighborhood or at local parks.
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There are many virtual volunteer needs listed at our Volunteer Portal site. Here's are filtered searches for those opportunities to help many local organizations (search for remote or online opportunities) - Social Media and Marketing.
