Opportunities From: United Way of Central Illinois

The Friendly Caller program provides social conversation to socially isolated seniors through brief phone calls or visits. These calls are suggested to last a minimum of 15 minutes once per week or once every other week. This program is meant to meet the needs of older adults as they age.

Please contact Tessa French at t.french@ssoci.org or (217) 528-4035, ext. 299 for more information.

Springfield Specialty Meals on Wheels is a home-delivered meal program focused on physician prescribed specialty dietary needs. Meal delivery is currently only available in Springfield.

Springfield Specialty Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver meals to homebound seniors on restrictive diets. Meals are delivered Monday—Friday from 11:15—1:00.

Meal delivery volunteers are not expected to deliver meals daily, but once a week or even once a month would be a great help! Corporate Volunteer Programs are also invited to participate in meal delivery.

For more information, please contact Tessa French at t.french@ssoci.org or (217) 528-4035, ext. 299.

Many variables can impact our blood inventories such as weather, holidays or tragic events.  Every day, patients who need blood are in crisis and you can help by volunteering to donate.  Less than 10% of the population gives blood, so donors that give on a regular basis are important to meet these needs. Schedule an appointment today!

Blood drives can be held in a conference room, gymnasium, classroom or similar location within your facility, or, if a suitable location can’t be found, we can bring a Donor Bus (a fully functioning donor-room-on-wheels) directly to you!

Our team of Account Managers will work with you to determine the logistics for your blood drive, and then we'll provide all the tools you need to help change the world one pint at a time!

4-H clubs are run by volunteer club leaders, and we are seeking volunteers to help establish new clubs in the Sangamon & Menard County area.  Clubs can be led by an individual volunteer or by a team of volunteers.

Community Clubs are traditional 4-H clubs.  Volunteer club leaders are responsible for organization and coordination of the club, but the goal is to have the youth members actively participate in group decision making.  During the meetings, members develop leadership, communication, and life skills while serving their community and making new friends.  Outside of club meetings, members explore their individual interests by working on projects independently.

All 4-H volunteers must complete an application and screening process before they can work with youth in the program.

4-H clubs are run by volunteer club leaders, and we are seeking volunteers to help establish new clubs in the Sangamon & Menard County area.  Clubs can be led by an individual volunteer or by a team of volunteers.

Cloverbud Clubs are for children ages 5-7 as of September 1.  Volunteer club leaders are responsible for planning and leading an activity that can be completed as a group.  Most Cloverbud Clubs are associated with a Community Club and meet at the same time.

All 4-H volunteers must complete an application and screening process before they can work with youth in the program.

4-H clubs are run by volunteer club leaders, and we are seeking volunteers to help establish new clubs in the Sangamon & Menard County area.  Clubs can be led by an individual volunteer or by a team of volunteers.

A SPIN (SPecial INterest) Club focuses on once specific project area, and club meetings are spent developing new skills in that area.  Typically, the leader of a SPIN Club has knowledge and experience in a particular area - such as sewing or robotics - that he or she can teach to members of the club, or the leader uses curriculum provided by 4-H to teach about a particular topic.

All 4-H volunteers must complete an application and screening process before they can work with youth in the program.

Do you think of yourself as a friendly, sociable person? Do you enjoy helping people?  The American Red Cross needs several more volunteers in the Springfield area who are eager to put their outstanding customer service skills to use!  We host several community blood drives each month in Springfield and need one or two volunteers at each.  Our Blood Donor Ambassadors welcome blood donors as they arrive, help them check in and complete their health questionnaire, and above all make them feel welcome, comfortable, and appreciated.  Every pint of blood donated has the potential to save up to three lives, and the need for blood is always urgent.  You can help us maintain the supply of life-saving blood by being your wonderful, friendly self!  Make every blood donor feel glad they came to our blood drives.  Most drives last 6 hours and we ask that you commit to roughly one shift per month (we understand you have your own life and plans.)  When you are busy, the time flies by.  When it's slow, you can read a book, work on homework assignments, play a game on your phone, get some steps in by walking laps around the rooms, after you've offered to help the busy phlebotomists. 

Responsibilities: Respond to local disasters (such as home fires) with the help and supervision of an experienced volunteer, while taking the free online classes required to become a fully qualified disaster responder.  Participate in occasional local team meetings and trainings and continue to learn while making a difference as a Red Cross disaster volunteer. 

Reports to: Emergency Services Manager and/or DAT Coordinator, Leader or Responder

Qualifications to become a DAT Trainee:

The Autism Clinic at Hope needs volunteers to help our staff with a big file organization project. The Autism Clinic provides services to families and children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. If you love to organize and know the alphabet, we want you!

Hope will provide a comfortable space with a chair for each volunteer. The Hope Cafe is just across the hall if you want a snack, lunch or breakfast.

All files will be for past clients who achieved their individual goals and 'graduated' from the program. You will sign an Observer Confidentiality Agreement agreeing to not disclose any confidential information you may see about client(s) or families, including name(s).

The Autism Clinic at Hope needs volunteers to help our staff clean and sanitize lots of toys! We will work indoors in the kitchen or other area with a sink. We will supply all needed materials except your helpful, willing hands. Each volunteer will need to sign an Observer Confidentiality Agreement in case you recognize our children or their families.

Elara Caring, one of the nation’s largest providers of home-based care, is looking for compassionate volunteers willing to donate their time to provide exceptional end-of-life care to local hospice patients and their families.

Volunteers are needed to visit with patients and engage them in activities such as playing music, singing, working on a craft project, sharing a special, or simply providing companionship through listening, talking or holding a hand. Volunteers can sometimes provide respite car, allowing family members to take a much-needed break.

There are also volunteer opportunities within the Elara Caring Hospice office, assisting staff with mailing, filing, data entry and other special projects.

Elara Caring is also looking for pet therapy volunteers. These volunteers, along with their trained pet companions, visit Hospice patients in facilities. Dogs must be certified in order to visit patients.

Hours are very flexible, weekdays, evenings or weekends. Typically we ask that you visit your assigned patient 1-2 hours per week or offer 1-2 hours per week or work in the office.

For more information, contact Christian at crundblad@elara.com

Elara Caring Hospice, a leading care provider in the Midwest, is looking for compassionate volunteers willing to donate their time to provide exceptional end-of-life care to local hospice patients and their families.

Elara Caring Hospice is looking for Companion Volunteers who will visit patients in local nursing facilities or in private homes. The Companion Volunteer will provide companionship, play cards/games, watch TV, take the patient out into the garden area for fresh air, read to the patient, etc. There is no physical care involved. Hours are very flexible, weekdays, evenings or weekends. Typically we ask that you visit your assigned patient 1-2 hours per week or offer 1-2 hours per week or work in the office.

For more information, contact Christian at crundblad@elara.com

Elara Caring, one of the nation’s largest providers of home-based care, is looking for compassionate volunteers willing to donate their time to provide exceptional end-of-life care to local hospice patients and their families.

If you love to sing or play an instrument, you can share music with a hospice patient in a local nursing facility or patient’s home. This opportunity is especially appealing to music lovers and music therapy students. Typically we ask that you visit your assigned patient 1-2 hours per week.

For more information, contact Christian at crundblad@elara.com

Elara Caring, one of the nation’s largest providers of home-based care, is looking for compassionate volunteers willing to donate their time to provide exceptional end-of-life care to local hospice patients and their families.

Elara Caring Hospice is looking for Pet Therapy volunteers (handlers with dogs only). A visit from a therapy dog can be so beneficial. Terminally ill patients enjoy the extra attention and unconditional love they feel from a four-legged companion. In order to volunteer and visit patients, you must have you own dog who is already certified through Therapy Dogs International, West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs.

Volunteer must have his/her own certified Therapy Dog. Handler must be able to provide dog’s health record (current DHLPP, Bordetella, Rabies, and fecal tests), therapy certification and certified of liability insurance policy.
Hours are very flexible, weekdays, evenings or weekends. Typically we ask that you visit your assigned patient 1-2 hours per week or offer 1-2 hours per week or work in the office.

For more information, contact Christian at crundblad@elara.com

Establish a cooperative working relationship with foster-care families through home visits; identifying needs and concerns. Evaluate client data and develop service plans.

Requirements:

Must have a BA/BS in social work or related human-services field. Child-welfare experience preferred. Must be eligible for or have a child-welfare license. You must be able to pass a DCFS-mandated background check. Apply online at LCFS.org/about/careers/. EOE

Central has offices in Springfield, Decatur, and Quincy.

Southern has offices in Mt. Vernon and Belleville.

(all require background check)

Case Aide – Full and Part time
Requirements: High School diploma, valid Driver’s license, and vehicle.

Child Welfare Specialist – full time
Requirements: Bachelor Degree in any field. 

Program Supervisors – Full time
Requirements: Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field.

View all our opportunities and apply at LCFS.org/about/careers/. 

If interested, please contact Sabrina Otken at sabrina_otken@lcfs.org.

Club Compass is a weekly program that takes place after school. Club Compass serves students referred by their school based on eligibility criteria, and the program is provided at no cost to families. Currently, Club Compass has five in-person sites. 

Each Club Compass site has the same major components: an evidence-based social-emotional curriculum lesson, enrichment, and a Backpack Feeding Program. A Site Coordinator (Compass for Kids staff member) oversees and manages the program site and acts as a liaison between the schools, students, volunteers, and families. They also ensure a structured, consistent, high-quality program experience. The program is otherwise staffed by dedicated, loving volunteers who serve as classroom helpers and mentors to the children.

We are looking for volunteers who would like to serve at one of our in-person sites. Can you spare a few hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays to mentor students in our community?  Please contact Shelly Kinner at 217-414-7940 or at shelly@compass4kids.org for more information or to get started! 

Pease visit our website www.compassforkids.org to learn more about Compass for Kids. 

The neighborhood association owns and maintains 75 vacant lots throughout the neighborhood, which requires a lot of volunteer labor, especially throughout the mowing season. We need to walk the lots to pick up trash and other debris so it doesn't damage the mower, pile branches at the curb for city pick up, and some lots have large limbs down that need to be cut up or overgrowth that needs to be cut back. Whether you're an individual willing to spend an hour working on one lot or a team that wants to organize a work day to tackle multiple lots, we have plenty of options! If you have experience operating a weed wacker, chainsaw or bush hog, that's great, but even if you don't there is still plenty that can be done. We are also willing to work with individuals who need to get community service hours. 

The Springfield Zoological Society is an entirely volunteer run organization based out of Springfield Illinois. The primary purpose is to act as a supportive funding source to expand the collection of animals and improve the facilities of the Henson Robinson Zoo. Board members are responsible for running fundraising projects, spreading the mission of the Society, attending monthly board meetings, and assisting with general needs of the Zoo and the Society. Board members should be passionate about animals and support the missions of the Henson Robinson Zoo and Springfield Zoological Society. 

Board members are not required to hold any qualifications in animal welfare as they will not interact with the zoo animals any more than the general public does. All board members must be in good standing with the Springfield Park District and Henson Robinson Zoo. 

If interested, please contact us at springfieldzoosociety@gmail.com