return to Make A Difference > Quick & easy ways to make a difference

Jul 2010  |  By Mibs  |  Comments (1)

August 2010 Give Time, Give Things, Give Support

TAGS: August 2010 magazine, ways to volunteer

This month's picks for people, places and things with which you can make a difference:

Give Time:

Christian Outreach of Lutherans (COOL) Food Pantry—Waukegan
Waukegan
August is a great month to volunteer as a family. COOL welcomes children and their families to experience working in the pantry and be a COOL Volunteer. Assist Pantry staff with sorting, packaging, and distributing food to visitors. Opportunities are available on Tuesday or Thursday from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. You may choose two days per month per family.  For more information contact Amber Abbott, Volunteer Manager for the pantry.

Family Service of Winnetka-Northfield
Winnetka
Volunteers are needed and welcome in the Thrift Shop to sort, tag, and assist in store sales of donated items, including gently used clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, home decor, and books suitable for resale. All proceeds of the resale store benefit the counseling and psychotherapy program at Family Service. Please contact the Thrift Shop Manager Mike Topper for information.

Save a Star Drug Awareness Foundation—Highland Park
Highland Park
Save a Star encourages volunteers with the following skills to help spread the word about drug awareness: Fundraising, grant writers, website support and development, newsletter chair, community outreach/education, marketing/public relations, office assistance, community events/public speaking, fundraising program initiatives and management.  

Give Things:

PADS Crisis Center (Providing Advocacy, Dignity and Shelter)
North Chicago
Consider donating school supplies, a cartridge printer, socks, a new or used vacuum cleaner, garbage bags, toilet paper and powdered laundry soap. PADS provides emergency shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services to families with children and individuals who are experiencing homelessness in Lake County. Specific details for the requested items can be found on their website under “Wish List” or by contacting Lynn Flynn, ext. 121.

Career Resource Center
Lake Forest
In need of conference room furniture, copier, computers and office supplies. Career Resource Center, established 20 years ago, is a regional career transition center that provides professional assistance to adults seeking employment. CRC provides services including: private advisor sessions, educational programs, interview training, networking sessions, internet job search training, job search roundtables, and accountability groups.  

Right Angle Educational Foundation
Chicago
Donate these items: frequent flier miles to help defray student travel costs; prepaid phone cards so students may call home while away at campus; items for the silent auction at the 10th Annual Taste of College fundraiser, 2011.

Each year, Right Angle gives 90-100 qualified high school students from low-income families first-hand experience at a four-year college before they graduate. This Summer of a Lifetime program helps inner-city high school students develop the confidence and skills necessary to pursue college opportunities. Right Angle is part of the nationally recognized Noble Network of Charter Schools. Contact the foundation at  HYPERLINK "mailto:rightangle@ameritech.net" rightangle@ameritech.net, for further donation instructions.

Give Support:

Grid Iron Greats Assistance Fund / Misericordia
Northbrook
Join a foursome at the Mike Ditka Celebrity Golf Classic, meet your favorite ’85 Bears Legends and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chicago’s Super Bowl Champions.  This once-in-a-lifetime golf classic will benefit retired NFL Players in dire need through the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, as well as Misericordia, which supports individuals with developmental disabilities. Call for registration and information.  

North Shore Senior Center—Northfield
Northfield
The North Shore Senior Center is a resource for older adults and their families. Here adults of all ages and their family members can enjoy active and fulfilling lives in Lifelong Learning programs or support services to provide extra help so they continue living in their own homes as they grow older, among familiar surroundings, friends and family. Your gift supports the highest quality of care and services to a growing senior population, and helps offer programs that can expand intellectual, social and volunteer engagement as well as services that improve health and extend independent living.  

RISE International—Winnetka/Angola
Winnetka
Help rebuild lives and communities in war-torn Angola. Led by families in the North Shore community, RISE is committed to rebuilding primary schools for the children in Angola. The first school was built in 2003, just 6 yearsago--and now there are over 100 schools built, where more than 55,000 children now learn. Join in at the 2010 Annual RISE Benefit, Saturday, September 18 at Ravinia. Call 847-441-4262 for more information.