Volunteer Opportunities
A UPS volunteer helps do some spring cleanup around the Little City Palatine campus during the company's "Making A Difference Day" held throughout the country.
The following are brief descriptions of volunteer opportunities available at Little City. For some volunteer projects, training and a background check are required.
Please contact Little City's Manager of Volunteer Services at (847) 221-7804 or volunteer@littlecity.org. for more detailed job descriptions.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Little City Book Fair
Volunteer at the annual Little City Book Fair on August 19 to 21 at Harper College in Palatine. Days and shifts flexible and vary for each opportunity. (PDF)
To sign up for a date and time, visit here.
Holiday Events
We need lots of volunteers during the winter holidays for many different activities: gift wrapping, adopting an adult or child for gift giving, decoration as, holiday parties, entertainment and more.
Special Olympics
Our Special Olympic athletes welcome a cheering section! Volunteers to coach, direct and encourage participants are needed!
Fundraising
We have a multitude of fundraising events. Help provide support at our golf outings, Fashion Show Dinner, Annual Dinner, Smiles Tag Days and more!
Arts - After School Arts Program
Mondays and Thursdays; Shift Time: 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Location: Recreation Center (1610 Little City Drive)
Description: Volunteers assist with hands-on arts programs in movement, studio arts and music for children, age 5 – 21, participating in Little City’s residential program. Tasks include: set-up and clean-up, 1:1 support of children during activities, other duties as requested by artist facilitators or S’ART manager.
Requirements: Successful completion of all Little City Foundation background checks and volunteer registration materials. Good interpersonal skills, empathy, patience and compassion are important characteristics of this role. No prior experience in the arts or special education is required.
Discover Financial volunteers paint a mural in one of the walkways at Little City’s Palatine campus.
GENERAL OPPORTUNITIES
Lunchroom help
We can use help in our day programs lunchroom, weekdays between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. This consists of helping hand out lunches, maintaining order and assisting program coordinators. Training and background check is required.
Clerical help
Office help is always needed. This includes filing, data entry, copying, shredding, direct mail envelope stuffing, etc. This is done on weekdays and is usually supervised by one of our administrative assistants or a program manager.
Book Fair Sorting and Pricing - Presale
We need book sorters (to categorize used books) in our warehouse. These book lovers will sort our used books into categories, discard books that are not in a sellable condition, and then price and pack for storage until our weekend-long book fair over the summer. This project is ongoing, can be done with a half hour of training, and is done either during the week or with special request on certain Saturdays and evenings. This is a project that can be done by a group or individually. We are looking for people who will make a commitment to come regularly until the fair.
A volunteer from the Young Professionals Group shows a participant in Little City's ChildBridge program how to play the bongo drum during a special event held at Little City's Chicago offices .
FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PROGRAMS
Are you that special person with a caring heart? We have wonderful programs to support you.
Locations: Chicago and some suburbs
Mentor
Many of the children in Little City’s foster care and adoption programs lack a positive male or female role model. Through relationship building and modeling, mentors have the opportunity to encourage youth to make good choices, pushing them toward success. Become a mentor and be part of positive change in a young person’s life. Mentors should be willing to make at least a six-month commitment.
Art Program
Little City’s Special Arts Program provides classes in movement, music, performance, studio and media arts to children in our programs with emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. The goal of the program is to build self-esteem and a sense of community while encouraging skill development and self-expression. Volunteers are needed to help the instructors facilitate classes for the young participants. Classes are held on Saturdays.
Tutor
Many of the children that Little City serve require additional help in math, reading, study and organizational skills in order to achieve a higher level of success in school. Feeling more successful in school can also lead to improved self-esteem, which is vital in children with special needs. Volunteer tutors are needed to provide general tutoring services on a consistent basis. Volunteers with specific areas of expertise (such as math or science) are also needed. Tutors need to be willing to make at least a six-month commitment.
“HOME BASE” for Youth from Foster Care
Youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood are often unsure of who they can count on for ongoing support once they “age out” of the foster care system and do not have biological family on which to rely. Adults are needed to provide a “home base” to a young person who may not have a place to celebrate the holidays, look to for support in finding a job or housing, or just to call when he or she needs support and guidance. Become a “Home Base” for foster care youth and provide this much needed safety net and support for a young person in the community.