Volunteer Chicago: Help Improve Health

Chicago, with a population of more than 2.8 million, needs committed volunteers to work in areas of health and health education.  One website lists 50 volunteer Chicago opportunities with some of the 242 different organizations engaged in improving the health of local citizens or providing health education for better self-care.

Chicagoland’s Blood Center

LifeSource, also known as Chicago’s Blood Center, has an ongoing volunteer Chicago need for people to transport blood and blood products to area hospitals.  The company is searching for people 18 years of age and older who can work in shifts of up to four hours in the morning, afternoon and evening on all days except Sunday to make deliveries.

LifeSource is also looking for volunteers to care for donors who give blood during community blood drives.  More specifically, these volunteers extend a welcome to donors as they arrive and then provide refreshments.  Position requirements state that only one day a month is necessary and volunteers must be 18 years old or older.  This ongoing volunteer Chicago need is for a year-long campaign that began on Feb. 2, 2011, with drives planned every day of the week in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Help a Child

Volunteers are needed to work with staff members at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. Child Life volunteers assist during story time and with arts and crafts activities, which may take place in the nursing unit or at the child’s bedside.  Services are needed for two hours in the morning, afternoon or evening from Monday through Saturday.

Each school year the La Rabida Children’s Hospital needs tutors to work with outpatients and their sisters and brothers.  In this volunteer Chicago opportunity, one tutor is assigned to one child and help with skills in reading and math on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon or evening.  Tutors need to be 18 years of age or older and be available at the chosen time each week.

Provide Resources and Relieve Stress

The Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC) is looking for Helpline Intake Specialist   to answer calls and provide information about health care resources.  Those volunteering for this position will receive training and, according to the expanded description on the website, “[...]you have an opportunity to alleviate many of the stressors the US and Illinois health care system imposes on the uninsured and underinsured living in Illinois. We help consumers find affordable health care providers.” Hours are flexible in both morning and afternoon shifts, which occur only during the work week.

Cooking Better for Less

Cooking Matters- Chicago needs an Assistant for Cooking & Nutrition Education Class.  The class teaches kids, teens and adults how to prepare meals that are both healthy and low cost.  Started in January 2010, Cooking Matters-Chicago has an ongoing need for a volunteer in this capacity.  Classes are held mornings, afternoons and evenings from Monday through Saturday.  Among the qualifications for this volunteer Chicago position are an “interest in working with individuals with diverse backgrounds [and] dedication to helping alleviate hunger, poor nutrition and poverty.”

The Chicago Volunteer website is a good place to start when looking for ways to use skills in health and education to benefit the community.  From giving blood to assisting donors, and helping children with school subjects after an illness, there are a variety of ways to help.

Photo credits: by Jay[N]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metadata/278006982/

“Volunteer NYC” Campaign Highlights Tutoring

Volunteer’s Skill Benefits Students

The “Volunteer NYC” Campaign takes a detailed look at current tutoring opportunities available through three organizations mentioned on the NYC Service website. Whether you are a professional with experience in core subject areas, a graduate student with a math and science specialty, or a person who knows how to motivate middle school students, your skills are needed.

Help The Urban Dove HiRisers

Of the high-priority volunteer NYC opportunities listed under education on the NYC Service site, many involve tutoring. Among them is The Urban Dove Tutoring Program, which is looking for volunteers to work with high schoolers in core academic subjects. The high school students, themselves volunteering, work with elementary and middle schoolers to help them with literacy, life-skills and sports as part of the organization’s HiRisers program, as presented in the position’s description.

One of four programs operated by The Urban Dove, the HiRisers after-school program trains high school students to work with younger students. “HiRisers teaches reading, writing, listening, and the life skills – communication, teamwork, and leadership unique, interactive workshops,” according to The Urban Dove website. The Urban Dove needs tutors who can take on one full semester at their main office and the Bronx satellite office.

The organization’s staff wants to make sure teenage volunteers succeed in their own academic efforts and are searching for tutors that can help them improve and expand upon study skills. The program’s listing states that “[The] ideal candidates will be professionals in their field who have studied one of our high school students’ core subjects at the college level.” Core subject areas include math, science, social studies, language arts and foreign language, especially Spanish and French. Each volunteer is asked to tutor in one or two of these subject areas.

“I Have a Dream” Program Adopts a Neighborhood

The Ravenswood II “I Have a Dream” Program needs tutors to help middle schoolers improve their writing skills. To achieve this goal, volunteers will provide homework help as well as working on additional creative writing assignments. Students will also try their hand at writing in a journalistic style. Those wishing to take part in this volunteer NYC option must have basic grammar and writing skills and be able to inspire and motivate the students to succeed.

Throughout the country “I Have a Dream” programs have adopted a classroom of students and provided assistance to them throughout their school years. The Ravenswood program has committed to helping 50 sixth and seventh grade students living in Ravenswood Houses in Long Island City, Queens, through middle school, high school and college. In addition to tutoring the students receive mentoring services and the chance to participate in art and drama activities.

Youth Consortium Seeks Math and Science Tutors

The South Brooklyn Youth Consortium, which operates an after-school program Tuesdays through Fridays, is looking for volunteers to help students prepare for tests and improve skills in math and science. Another position posted with this organization is created to assists third through eighth graders with individual math and science tutoring on Monday through Friday in the afternoons or evenings. The qualifications for both volunteer NYC opportunities include graduate school attendance and prior tutoring experience.

When you visit the NYC Service website, and click on the volunteer activity you want to explore, you’ll find contact numbers and names for each organization. Opportunities to put your knowledge to work through tutoring are manifold. Whether your interests and skills are in math and science, writing and grammar, social studies and history or a foreign language, you can have a positive impact on students from elementary grades through high school years.

photo credit: matt.hintsa