Chicago Fun Volunteers

Coppin Community Center partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We distribute food items every Monday. This includes frozen protein, fresh produce, dairy and can/dry goods.

Schedule is as follows:
8:00 am-11:00 am is the window our food truck arrives. Volunteers are needed to unload 3-4 pallets of food items to be distributed later
2:00pm-6:00pm is table/shelving prep and distribution.
4:00-6:00 is actual distribution and volunteers are needed to assist clients picking and bagging food items.
Volunteers are requested to be fully vaccinated and masks are available. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed in shoes. Parking across the street. Coppin Community Center 5627 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, Ill. 60637. Contact Frankye Parham, coordinator, frankyep@msn.com

Come help support a food pantry in West Humbolt Park, with Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. In response to COVID-19, the nuns at this mission have seen a triple increase in food needs and hunger from the community (they are currently helping 600 families a week). This is a safe, outdoor, socially-distanced food distributions. Volunteers will help setup tables and food and pass them out to our friendly and grateful neighbors who may be going through a hard time during this pandemic. You can make a difference in their lives by sharing some hope and kindness with them.

Volunteers are needed starting at 7:30 am. The first 2 hours are the busiest with positioning the food and tables. If you cannot make the full project time, coming late or leaving early is still helpful, just leave a message below to let us know if you have to adjust your shift time. Please help with clean up and break down, recycling after the event. While the nuns at this mission are of Catholic faith, they serve families of all faiths in the community and you do not need to be Catholic to volunteer and help. You should come with an open mind and attitude of respect and tolerance.

During the pandemic response, additional rules are implemented for everybody's safety:

• Volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 65
• You cannot work in healthcare or live with someone who works in healthcare (we are praying for all healthcare workers but need to keep the pantry safe!)
• It must be at least 14 days since you’ve attended a protest
• You don’t think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 otherwise
• Bring your own mask
• You MUST RSVP to olamission@gmail.com. Volunteers who do not RSVP will not be allowed to volunteer.

**** IMPORTANT ******
This is a COVID-!9 response to help the community. All safety protocols must be followed to ensure everybody's safety. Only sign up if you can answer NO to all the following questions:

1. Have you experienced any flu or cold like symptoms in the last 14 days?
2. Have you traveled to any high risk states on Chicago's quarantine list in the last 2 weeks? https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html
3. Have you been in contact with anybody that is tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or exhibit COVID-19 symptoms?
4. Have you been tested positive COVID-19, suspect or know you have the virus in the last 30 days?
5. Do you have a fever over 100 degrees now?
6. Do you have a dry cough now?
7. Do you have any other reasons to think you are sick or may be infected with COVID-19?

**** IMPORTANT ******

If you answer yes to any of the questions, I respectfully ask you to stay home and attend to your own care and follow CDC's guidelines for self quarantine and speak to a doctor to see if you need to get tested. Your healthy and safety is the highest priority.

If you answer no to all the questions above, then we would love to have your help, as hundreds of family are in need of food in the neighborhood.

Time: every Tuesday morning from 7:30 am to Noon
Location: Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (school building)
3814 W. Iowa St., Chicago, IL 60651
Google map link: https://goo.gl/maps/t8tiwzTiPB3pXs6m6

Some free street parking in surrounding residential streets. Near CTA bus routes.

About the organizations:
The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels establishes a Catholic presence in the West Humboldt Park area on Chicago’s west side.

This area is presently one of the poorest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. The purpose of the Mission is twofold: to assist the materially poor and to share the treasure of our Catholic Faith.

ASSISTANCE TO THE MATERIALLY POOR INCLUDES:
Food Pantries,
Distribution of Clothing/ Household Goods,
Emergency Assistance
Afterschool Programming
Senior Citizens' Programming-
Community Dinners
Special Holiday Events

For more information: please visit: https://missionola.com

Share some cheers and good karma by playing Bingo with a group of fun seniors at the Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. This is a good way to relax after a long work day. Volunteers will assist the residents with spotting numbers or helping those who have mobility issues. Volunteers also help call Bingo and help the residents select their winning prizes.

This is a family friendly event. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

This is a recurring volunteer event every Wednesday evening. Volunteers can also donate some prizes from the dollar store for the Bingo games, but not required.

Free parking is available in their lot. It is near the brown line and CTA bus routes.

Please check in with the front desk and let them know you're here to volunteer for bingo. Bingo will be played in the dining room across the hall from the front desk. The weekly games will be led by Jim, Jean, or Fran.

Because this is a medical facility, HIPAA laws and regulations apply. Please respect everyone's privacy, and do not take any pictures of the residents or the staff without their permission.

Volunteers of all cultures are welcome. Help cook and share a meal with Native American seniors at St. Kateri Center. We will cook both cultural relevant food for Indians (maze, beans, squash, wild rice, bison, fry bread, etc.) and popular American lunch items. Volunteers will also get to sit down and eat with the elders, and share conversations to learn about the Indian culture.

This is a recurring event on the third Thursday of every month.

Both experienced and non experienced volunteers are welcome. All cooking and plating instructions will be provided on site and it is easy. All volunteers must be 14 years or older. Minors must get their parents' or legal guardians' permission to participate.

Volunteers will meet at St. Kateri Center, next to St. Benedict Church

3938 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60618

We will start cooking at 9 am and be ready to serve by noon. We will cook 40 to 80 meals to serve on site and pack some meals for home delivery. Volunteers will meet in the kitchen. The shift time is flexible. If you have to come later or leave early, that's OK.

Please dress appropriately to work in a kitchen. Wear closed toe shoes with non slip bottoms, like sneakers. Slacks, jeans or long pants. No shorts or tank tops allowed. You will be asked to wear a hair net or you can bring a baseball cap or hat to manage your hair. You can also bring your own apron if you own one.

There is free street parking in the area, usually on the same street or the next block. It is also near CTA bus routes.

About our organizations:

St. Kateri Center of Chicago is a Ministry of St. Benedict Parish serving the community of American Indian Catholics through faith formation and traditional prayers.

St. Kateri Center of Chicago is the only place the Native American community in Illinois can come to practice their cultural ways of praying and practicing their spiritual life. Here at the Kateri Center, we uphold an open door policy of welcoming any non-native people wishing to learn about Native spiritual life.