Volunteer Opportunities for Kids Around Chicago

The Kid's Pantry prides itself on being a "community helping the community," providing free gently used children's items to families in the Northwest Suburbs. The idea is to support families with dignity, without requiring proof of hardship, recognizing that sometimes families just need a little help to stretch the budget a bit further. Volunteers of all ages are welcome throughout the year on a weekly basis, as well as for their semi-annual "giveaway" events. Donations of gently used or new children's and pregnancy items are also gratefully accepted.

If your kids love to bake or create, this is the volunteer opportunity for them! Started by a mom and her two daughters, the volunteers at Made By Mary make homemade treats and cards to deliver to neighbors who may be going through a challenging time. Currently serving Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights, the neighborly mission behind Made by Mary is beginning to spread as volunteers take up the call in their own neighborhoods around the country. Check out their website to join their team of bakers and card makers, or to nominate your own neighbor or friend in need of a little homemade TLC!

Equestrian Connection provides high-quality equine therapy programs and services for children and adults with special needs. Their staff includes highly professional licensed therapists, therapeutic riding instructors, and caring volunteers. They offer a variety of programming from art therapy to riding lessons, as well as fun events and birthday parties. Volunteers can be trained as sidewalkers, or they can help assist in arts and crafts at a birthday party, groom horses, or work in the arena during therapy rides.

Feed My Starving Children is committed to providing food to children living in poverty throughout the world. Volunteers work to pack rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a nutritious blend of vitamins and minerals specially formulated for children suffering from malnutrition, which are then sent to partners working in orphanages, schools, clinics, and feed programs in nearly 70 countries. In addition to several permanent packing locations, FMSC also offers MobilePack events throughout the United States, so check their site for a volunteer opportunity near you!

Lisaweskamp said:  Families Helping Families Chicagoland (FHFC) is a local charity run completely by volunteers. Our mission is simple – we aim to better our community by providing meaningful opportunities for families to support local families in need. We support hundreds of families and foster children in Lake and Cook Counties through a number of events including: monthly donation drives, birthday present collections for children living in foster care, provision of immediate help to urgent needs, serving meals to low income families and hands-on volunteer events for the whole family!

JOURNEYS The Road Home provides shelter and services to individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in suburban Cook County. Volunteers below middle school age may only volunteer when clients are not present (e.g. setting up PADS homeless shelters). Middle school-age kids may volunteer when clients are present, but only with a parent or guardian. High School kids may volunteer when clients are present but must work alongside an adult volunteer.