Aiding the Sick
For junior Margaret Haws, the best part of her work as a volunteer at Condell Medical Center is being able to heighten the spirits of some of the wearier patients there, whether that be through joking around with them or helping them do some of the small tasks they can’t manage themselves.
"I really enjoy seeing the patients and being around the numerous people trying to help them get better," Haws said.
Condell offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities including assisting patients, doing office work, distributing mail and gifts to patients and participating in special events at the hospital. As part of her volunteer work, Haws visits and assists patients, as well as runs errands around the hospital, like emptying garbage or restocking cabinets.
Junior Anna Smiley also volunteers at Condell as well, but more specifically in the central supply area where she helps clean IV pumps and puts together orders of supplies for different areas of the hospital.
"I just like knowing that I’m helping lighten someone’s load a little bit," Smiley said.
Interested in volunteering at Condell? Call (847) 990-5268 to get involved.
Feeding the Hungry
Having a fresh, hot meal at least three times a day is something many of us take for granted. For over 500,000 people in 13 of Illinois’ northeastern counties, however, that is not always an option.
But with the help of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, nearly 35 million pounds of food is distributed throughout these counties to try and curb the hunger. Libertyville High School junior Rachael Pulick is one of the many volunteers that make this organization possible.
During her time at NIFB, Pulick—who has been volunteering there for two years—has the opportunity to work multiple different stations in the food packaging process, including sorting, labeling, packaging, and stacking the boxes of food that come through the assembly line-style system. The packaged food is then sent out to food pantries and soup kitchens where it can be distributed to those who need it.
Much of the food donated are items that can no longer be sold in major grocery stores, but have not yet gone bad. "My favorite part is when the coordinators motivate all the volunteers with all the stories of the people whose lives we’re changing. It makes all the work seem worth it," said Pulick.
Interested in volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank? Call (847) 336-3663 to get involved.
Funding for Autism
One in every 91 children in the United States has autism, and more children will be diagnosed in this year than those with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined according to the organization Talk About Curing Autism.
The Little City Foundation, located in Palatine, is an organization that focuses on assisting people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are several different volunteering opportunities offered by Little City including assistance during the Special Olympics, after school art programs, clerical and lunchroom help, tutoring and help at their annual Little City Book Fair fundraiser.
Jamie Kenston, senior, has participated in the book fair, which takes place over the summer, for four years. As a volunteer, Kenston helps sort the donated books into their specific genre, and also boxes and bags the books that have been purchased.
"All you have to do is get a few friends and go out and volunteer. the feeling after you helped someone out is rewarding. Don’t just volunteer because it looks good, do it because it’s fun!" Kenston said.
Interested in volunteering for the Little City Foundation? Call (847) 358-4799 to get involved.
For the Kids
Juniors Julianna Cervino and Erin Coburn spend an hour at the Gym Spot every Monday night, not to improve their own gymnastic skills, but instead to help improve those of the mentally disabled children who participate in the Big Blast Project there.
The Big Blast Project is a non-profit organization that focuses on enhancing the lives of mentally disabled children through gymnastics therapy. The project is not only a way for the children to participate in physical activity, but it is also an opportunity for them to have fun while interacting with volunteers and other children.
Each week, Cervino and Coburn get paired up with a kid who they will be doing activities with, such as jumping on trampolines or walking on the balance beams. The girls encourage their new "buddies" to try new things and help develop their socializing skills during the activities.
"Volunteering is extremely rewarding. The kids get so excited to have a buddy and I feel good knowing that I’m contributing to their fun," said Coburn.
The Big Blast Project is a local organization which offers classes in Lake Forest and Downers Grove, as well as at the Gym Spot in Mundelein. Cervino and Coburn encourage anyone who likes working with little kids to volunteer for Big Blast.
Interested in volunteering for the Big Blast Project? Call (847) 987-3940 to get involved.
Helping the Homeless
For the children who suffer from the burden of homelessness in Lake County, there is nothing more that they want than to be a normal kid. Because of volunteers at the PADS Shelter of Lake County, like seniors Kaeleigh Borcia and Liz Shüll, those kids are one step closer to achieving their wish.
The PADS shelter focuses on providing emergency shelter and supportive services for people suffering from homelessness. The charity has several shelters located throughout Lake County. As well as providing shelter, PADS also offers programs, such as tutoring for GED and literacy and counseling, to help ensure that people will be able to have a successful future once outside of PADS.
Volunteers have the opportunity to help prepare meals for the guests or, as Borcia and Shüll do, play with the children at the shelter. Every Wednesday night, Shüll and Borcia join other teens from LHS and nearby schools to spend an hour with the kids living at the Waukegan shelter.
"It’s really fun to get to be on a name-to-name basis with them. There are these three girls that sing and dance better than Beyoncé, and whenever they ‘Whip their hair back and forth’ I can’t stop laughing. It’s the cutest," shared Shüll.
Interested in volunteering for PADS Shelters of Lake County? Call (847) 689-4357 to get involved.