Spread Some Cheer...Throughout the Year!

It’s that time of year once again!  Feasts are being planned.  Gift lists are being made.  Festive moods and generous spirits are abundant.  Right around this time, Chicago Cares starts receiving calls from people who want to volunteer in a way that will make someone’s holiday a little brighter.  We also want to spread the cheer and have several opportunities for those wishing to give back all season-long.  Please note that our Thanksgiving programs filled up quickly, as do all of our holiday celebrations, so be sure to sign up early!

Most of our children’s programs that take place at various schools and agencies around the city will be celebrating the season with special activities and field trips, especially on December 4.  You can also pack food baskets at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in East Garfield Park on December 22 to ensure that local families can enjoy a warm Christmas dinner together.  On December 24, you can help prepare and serve a hearty holiday meal for the women at Deborah’s Place on the Near North Side.

Chicago Cares is also going caroling on December 11 and 18!  Break out your fuzzy hats and warm up your vocal chords – although no choral experience is required!  Join other volunteers and some Chicago Cares staff to bring joy to seniors at several nursing homes and independent-living facilities around the city!  Song books and refreshments will be available, as well as transportation between the sites.  Remember to sign up early to secure a spot!

We are grateful for the abundance of eager individuals who want to volunteer this time of year, and we often hear from our partners that they also see an increase in volunteers around the holidays.  This season certainly brings out the best in people and some are disappointed if there isn’t space left at special holiday projects.  On behalf of all those we serve, we would like to encourage everyone to remember that the needs being met on holidays can also be met every other day of the year, too!  If your favorite project is already full, why not try a new one the following week or maybe even the following month?   After the holiday festivities have quieted down and people have returned to their regular schedules, you may just cross paths with the same seniors or same children on a day when they really need some extra attention – and that interaction may mean the world to them.

Leader Spotlight: Lexi Tarnow

Volunteering with Chicago Cares became a lot more exciting in February 2009 when Lexi Tarnow joined our organization. Lexi started volunteering at a variety of ongoing hunger and health programs and quickly transitioned into a leadership role within her first six months. Since then, we’ve heard that every project with Lexi is like a party!  She is passionate about the work that happens at her projects and makes sure everyone knows how important their role is in the process.

Lexi shared some information with us about her program ‘Shopping on Broadway’:

“This project is very unique in its set-up, but not in its mission.  Like many projects within Chicago Cares, even though we volunteers are often behind the scenes, what we have accomplished does not go unnoticed.  With each list we check, and each shopping cart we fill up, we are essentially getting our clients food that will sustain them and their families for the coming days and weeks.  Nothing is better than realizing that!  [Shopping on Broadway] and many [Chicago Cares] projects can be summed up by this quote: ‘No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another’ (Unknown).”

We also asked Lexi what she enjoys most about her Chicago Cares leadership role. This is what she had to say: “Just one day a month not only helps the clients, but new friendships are also made between all of us which strengthens our community!  An outgoing bunch, we chat and catch up on each others’ lives all while shopping, restocking shelves, and bagging groceries.  That camaraderie is something each of us looks forward to, not to mention what makes my leadership role so fun…and easy!  This project wouldn’t be nearly as successful without the ‘A Team’!”

Since Lexi’s projects are so popular, we wanted to know what leadership trick she would pass on to others. She said, “If your project allows it…tunes!  Music keeps the energy up and the clients love to sing along (and dance) too!”

Chicago Cares appreciates Lexi’s energy and enthusiasm. You can meet Lexi at ‘Shopping on Broadway’ projects one Saturday each month.

Lead at Chicago Cares' Annual Celebration of Service!

Celebration of Service is coming up on Saturday, January 15, 2011 and with the holidays fast approaching, that day will be here before you know it!  On this day, we celebrate the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of community and non-violence.  To that end, we also celebrate the fact that people are the answer.  Community and non-violence cannot be achieved simply out of legislation, financial contributions, or a quiet life.  It takes many people to participate and invest, and it takes leadership to help drive this change.

 In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.  Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation.  The foundation of such a method is love.”  As a Project Site Manager (“PSM”), you can be an example of this love through service and leadership.

During Celebration of Service, Chicago Cares will send out approximately 4,000 volunteers throughout the city of Chicago to aid schools and non-profit agencies in facility improvement and beautification projects, as well as engage youth, seniors, and adults with disabilities in fun, interactive and educational programs.

We need experienced leaders to join this effort and make a difference in both the organizations we serve as well as in our individual volunteers.  This is one day that can lead to a year of excited school spirit for a student who will be walking down newly painted halls; one day where memories of conversations had between seniors and youth will be remembered fondly; one day that can jump start a lifetime of service for a volunteer! 

Watch your e-mail for an invitation to sign up as a Project Site Manager soon.  The team at Chicago Cares will make sure you receive all the training you need to make this day a success.  Thank you in advance on behalf of all the lives you will be affecting!

Thank You, Leaders!

During the holiday season most of us reflect on our year and our family, and start to get introspective.  During Thanksgiving you might share your thankfulness for others around the dinner table with family and friends.  In the spirit of thankfulness, the Chicago Cares family wants to personally say “THANK YOU” to all of our treasured leaders and volunteers!

We love all of our volunteers, but without the dedication of our leaders we wouldn’t be able to serve even a small percentage of the organizations we partner with or offer opportunities for even a portion of the volunteers that we have!  Below are just a few of the many reasons the Chicago Cares team loves our leaders. 

“I am thankful for the amount of time and dedication each of our leaders gives to their programs and students.  Our leaders are the most energetic, inspiring people!  I am motivated every week by their stories and updates.”  -Alisha G. Flores

“I’m thankful for our volunteer leaders because their impact extends beyond any one project they lead.  Each Youth in Service project is just as much about encouraging youth volunteers on a path of continued service as it is about meeting community needs.  The multiplying effect our leaders can have is humbling.”  -Erin Rasler

“I love that our leaders get so invested in their programs – they are really dedicated to the work they do and constantly help us improve our programs.  With all the projects we have every month, it’s impossible to be at every one and see where we can improve.  Having such great leaders at our projects enables us to make sure all our programs are the best they can possibly be for our community partners and volunteers.”  -Joyce Cruz

"Chicago Cares leaders are the only reason I haven’t gone COMPLETELY bald…” – Dan Alberti

So THANK YOU LEADERS for your passion, enthusiasm, commitment and for encouraging us through the busy times so we don’t lose our hair!  Without you Chicago Cares could not exist.

Giving Students a Chance to Explore Their Passions at Hinton

Every time I am asked the question, “Which school is your favorite to work with?” I immediately know the answer: Hinton Elementary. Hinton is one of my favorite schools to work with because the students are excited to learn alongside the volunteers and the activities completed have a huge impact in students’ lives.

Saturday mornings at Hinton elementary are special, with students being able to choose from four Chicago Cares education programs: History Hunters, Students on Stage, Read-with-Me, or School News. This enables the students to explore topics that they do not have the time to investigate during the regular school day. These programs also represent a space for creativity as well as promote a way for students to develop critical social skills, both which provide support for academic achievement.

For me, participating alongside the 3rd through 8th graders at Hinton Elementary School is a relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning. I am always greeted with big, smiling faces from the students, who are energetically eager to participate in the day’s activity.

What I like the most about participating in the programs at Hinton is that there is something for all of the volunteers to choose from, depending on their own personal interests. And, the big, smiling faces that the students have at the close of each Saturday program make me count down the days on my calendar until the next project.

Our Office is Moving October 26th!

Our new address is:

2 N Riverside Plaza, Suite 2200

Chicago, IL 60606

Although our phone and fax numbers will remain the same, those lines will be temporarily down on October 26 and 27 as we move. Thank you for your patience, and if you plan to visit or send mail, please be sure to use our new address.

Why I Work at Chicago Cares

This post comes to us from Emily Collins, a Program Coordinator for our Children’s Education & Development Department. She manages a diverse set of children’s programming at multiple sites, one of which is Ella Flagg Young School. 

Working for a nonprofit is work...a lot of work. Most people who ask what I do think it’s endless games, projects, and activities that make you feel good – and sometimes, that’s true. I also know that working for a nonprofit is long hours, endless dedication, and constant adaptability and creativity. Sometimes the job is overwhelming, sometimes it feels thankless, and sometimes it feels like I can do nothing right....and then sometimes it’s exactly what I am looking for.

Being in the office every day is hard work and I sometimes find myself forgetting why I am there. This past Saturday, however, I was once again reminded why I spend so many hours each week working in the office: to touch someone else’s life. I was the leader for Healthy Start at Young, one of six Chicago Cares programs that I coordinate at the school. I admit that I lacked motivation to get out of bed and head to a project early Saturday morning, but my love for working with children, as well as cooking, gave me push I needed to get up and drive to Young School. 

 

One foot in the door, my whole outlook changed. I was first welcomed by Selena and Ashley, excited and inspired middle-school students ready to participate in Students on Stage with Andrew. Ms. Wilson brought Danaya and Darrell to build their reading skills at Read-with-Me while she volunteered at Healthy Start. Michelle and Samantha were ready to start experimenting with Abbey at Math + Science Club, and one of our most dedicated students, Rashae, arrived at Young with a big smile, ready to once again bet me about his like or dislike of our Healthy Start recipe. Rashae was here, ready to learn as always, and excited to make healthier decisions about his young life. I instantly felt like the Grinch and my small heart grew three sizes that instant.

I must admit that I have a slight bias: I love to cook and I studied nutrition and health education in college. Anyone interested in participating in Healthy Start excites me and instantly finds a place in my heart. Rashae, however, holds a particularly special place. I once won a bet against him that he would actually enjoy a burrito made with black beans and whole wheat tortillas. By making a fresh salsa, Rashae learned that grocery store items can be made healthier and tastier. This week, I showed him that squash (ew!) isn’t something scary and foreign but tasty and tricky; case in point: spaghetti squash. Rashae returns each time to Healthy Start resistant to eating healthy, yet each week beams with pride as he carefully packs up some of his food to bring home to his Grandma. (I also know, although he won’t always admit it, that he really likes the food.) Five minutes with him makes me remember why I work at Chicago Cares every day: I love working with kids and inspiring them to be their best selves.

I will not solve world peace. I will not end poverty or inequality. I cannot house all those who are homeless. But I can inspire a student to live a healthier lifestyle and make better choices. I can be a stable, positive presence in one child’s life. I can encourage others to volunteer. I can make a difference.