Volunteer Opportunities
Motorola volunteers helped Little City unload a semitrailer of donations in preparation for Little City’s annual Yard Sale at the Palatine campus.
The following are brief descriptions of volunteer opportunities available at Little City. Please contact our Volunteer Manager at (847) 358-5510 or volunteer@littlecity.org. for more detailed job descriptions.
SPECIAL EVENTS
On September 10, 11, and 12, join the hundreds of volunteers who will canvas streets and storefronts throughout the city of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs to raise money for Little City. Just two hours of your time can raise hundreds of dollars for children and adults with disabilities. Sign up today!
Greeting Card Sales
One of Little City's creative business enterprises includes engaging and unique greeting cards showcasing the stunning artwork of Little City artists and sold to the public. Help us distribute our cards and become a volunteer salesperson!
Special Olympics
Our Special Olympic athletes welcome a cheering section! Volunteers to coach, direct and encourage participants are needed!
Holiday Events
We need volunteers during the winter holidays for many different activities: gift wrapping, adopt an adult or child for gift giving, help with decorations, holiday parties, entertainment and everything else you can think of.
Fundraising
We have a multitude of fundraising events. Help host Bulls and Cubs games, the Annual Awards Dinner, Golf Outings, Fashion Shows and more!
Arts - After School Arts Program
Wednesdays, Shift Time: 3:30 – 5:30 (2 hours)
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.
Cleaning-Day Programs Help
Help keep our campus clean and looking beautiful. This can be done at almost any time when participants are attending different programs. There is no training or background check required.
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. There is training as well as background check 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. There is no special training or background check required.
Technical/Computer Help
We are looking for a special person to train our participants to use the computer. Someone with a great deal of patience and persistence is required. This position would need a background check and some training.
Book Sale Sorters and Pricing people needed in our warehouse - Presale
We need book sorters (to categorize used books) in our warehouse. These lovers of books 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 HUGE book sale in June. 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 with a group or individually. We are looking for people who will make a commitment to come regularly until the sale.
National City Bank volunteers Karla Garza (left) and Liz Siuta stack games in the children’s playroom at Little City during the company’s statewide volunteer effort to give back to the community.
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.
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.
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.
“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.