Volunteers are our lifeblood.
You can contribute regardless of your age, physical abilities, skills, and whether you have a lot of time or only a little. Come visit during our service hours to see how we operate and where you might best fit in. Your community needs you!
We welcome young people to volunteer but please note that individuals 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
the first step is to register to volunteer
Submit an Application to Volunteer with The Outreach House:
For New Volunteers…
After completing your application, please sign up to attend a Volunteer Orientation to get started.
For Existing Volunteers…
You will receive a link to your volunteer profile in your email. Bookmark this URL, as it will not change. DO NOT submit another volunteer application.
THE NEED & IMPACT WE MAKE:
93%
Work done for The Outreach House is done by volunteers
570+ Hours
Work done by Volunteers each week
170+
Volunteer “slots” must be filled each week
Volunteer Opportunities
Basic Requirement: A passion for helping our neighbors.
You can contribute regardless of your physical abilities, skills, and whether you have a lot of time or only a little.
We welcome young people to volunteer but please note that children must be at least aged 10 (unless part of an organized community group) and individuals 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Come visit during our service hours to see how we operate and where you might best fit in. Your community needs you!
Opportunities for Individuals:
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Help unload food deliveries, sort the food delivered and stock shelves
Ability to lift at least 15lbs
Thursdays 11:30-2pm
-
Sorting clothes/food and stocking shelves with clothes/food
Ability to lift at least 15lbs
MWF 8:30-12:30
-
Pick up food from local supermarket or Northern Illinois Food Bank and deliver to 805 S Main St
Own van/SUV/pickup & ability to lift at least 30lbs
MWF between 8-10am, Weds 11:30-1pm, Thursday 11-12pm, Friday 1-2:30p
-
Greet our guests, help answer their questions and guide them to the services they need
Fluent Spanish, comfortable using computer
MWF 8:30am-12:15pm, Weds 4:30-7:15pm
-
Help with cleaning our pantry at the end of the week
Fridays 12-2pm
Please sign up using this link to get started.
Opportunities for Groups:
We welcome groups to volunteer with us. :
Groups of Volunteers can help in the following ways:
Help with the Christmas Tree sale starting at Thanksgiving (especially evenings & weekends)
Do a collection of non-perishable food, diapers and/or personal care and cleaning products
Visit The Outreach House to sort and shelve the donations collected
Help with monthly deep cleaning of food pantry and storage and sorting area
Small Group Volunteer times:
(These mostly coincide with the times we are open)
Mon, Wed, Fri. 8 am - 12:15 pm
Wed. 4:30 - 6:45 pm
3rd Sat. each Month 8:30 - 11:45 am
Groups of 10 or more are invited to volunteer at times we are not open.
Please contact us at volunteering@theoutreachhouse.org if you would like to schedule a group volunteer event.
One-Time Projects & Events
We sometimes have special projects for which we need additional support outside of our normal hours, and which may require specially skilled and/or a large group of volunteers. Some examples of past projects include these:
Building and installing shelving for our Food Pantry shelf-stable items
Building and installing a baby changing station for our First Things First guests’ use
Hosting a diaper drive or food drive
Sorting and shelving donated food items
If you or your organization would like to volunteer for a special project or have ideas for how you can further support The Outreach House, please contact volunteering@theoutreachhouse.org.
Interested in hosting a drive for food, diapers, cleaning supplies or clothing?
Here’s what our guests say about our volunteers:
“Thank you to EVERYONE…you all played a part in making a difficult time in our lives seem less hopeless.”
“Volunteers are amazing. So nice and thoughtful. Know our names by heart and always ask about husband who is going on dialysis. Very organized. I always leave wishing I could do something for all their help.”
“There are none better. They make my day!!!
“Every volunteer has been a blessing and pleasant. I am grateful that even in the coldest of weather they have shown up to help out. Thank you and may all your kind actions be multiplied and returned to you.”
Won’t you join our team of volunteers?
