spring 2017
IVolunteer! Special Advertising Section
April 14, 2017
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Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week
Volunteer Meet & Match N
ational Volunteer Week is April 23-29, 2017. All over the country, volunteers will be recognized for their commitment to service and service projects will be performed. In Oak Park and River Forest, the annual Volunteer Meet & Match event will take place on April 26, 4-8 pm at the Oak Park Public Library, to help volunteers connect with local nonprofits that address the causes they care for. The Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation working with the West Cook YMCA (lead sponsor), the Oak Park Public Library, Housing Forward, Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, Ten Thousand Villages, and the RSVP of West Suburban and Southern DuPage Counties developed this event to match individual interests and skills with nonprofit organizations that need help. 44 nonprofits that serve Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities are registered for the
event and are seeking volunteers. We encourage individuals in Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding areas including, Forest Park, Austin, Elmwood Park, Maywood, Berwyn and Cicero and beyond to register to participate in this special event in order to list skills and interests to have potential organizational opportunities matched. Volunteers provide valuable community services which strengthen our community. According to the latest national figures, 62.6 million adults volunteered in 2015 contributing 7.9 billion hours of service worth $184 billion (Corporation for National and Community Service, 2017). Locally, Oak Park and River Forest are very giving communities in terms money and time, with 85% of people giving their time compared to a national average of 24.9%. See www.liveandgivesurvey.org. However, despite this availability of local volunteers, a 2015 assessment by the Foundation found that local nonprofits
needed additional support to recruit volunteers. To address this need, the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation organized the first recruitment event in the area last year. Forty organizations shared their mission, work and needs with more than 270 potential volunteers. The number of volunteers that were eventually recruited by the organizations varied greatly, up to 21 volunteers per organization. Louise Mezzatesta, a long time Oak Park resident says” I found the event to be a good vehicle for gathering information about many organizations with an eye of being a free-lance volunteer consultant. My volunteer opportunity with the Oak Park Regional Housing Center has been very rewarding as their mission is one that is important to me. I look forward to this year’s event!” This year an additional room in the Library -- the Lobby Community Space
on the first floor—will be used as well as the Veterans Room and Arts Gallery located on the second floor. We will have more ushers and have a welcome/ registration table downstairs near the main entry. We are seeking a wide range of volunteers to engage with local nonprofits. Volunteers interested in short-term projects, skill-based assignments, long-term positions, virtual volunteering, Board membership…all are welcome! We hope everyone will find time to come meet with our local nonprofits! The event is free. Walk-ins are welcomed but we strongly encourage people to preregister at www.oprfcf.org. This makes it much easier to match your interests and skills with more than 40 community organizations that can benefit from your service. Kristin Carlson Vogen, President & CEO Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room
Find out how YOU can get involved and make a difference
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spring 2017
April 12, 2017
Carla Taylor from 10,000 Villages 1. How did Volunteer Meet and Match help you connect with this organization which is a good fit for you? She saw ad in Wednesday Journal and then registered on line. Because TV listed ‘Marketing & Events” as roles they were recruiting for she was able to go directly to their table and make the connection quickly. 2. What motivated you to work with this organization?
throughout her life so she was glad to find a local opportunity for using her skills. She has been intensely involved with raising her child and now wanted to reconnect with adults in this community. 4. What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with this organization? Knowing that she is providing value to an organization that has an important mission is rewarding. She didn’t do this for recognition per se. 5. What is the most memorable accomplishment so far of your volunteer experience?
She began with marketing role and soon Wednesday, April 26, saw 2017 the connection with recruitment of new
She hadOak beenPark in store oftenLibrary and found Public Veterans their mission appealing. Didn’t know that all who work in the store are volunteers so that added to her motivation to continue there. It’s important to her to know that people work without getting paid for a cause they believe in. 3. What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time? She had been a frequent volunteer
volunteers which has been fulfilling. Room
6. Any other comments about last year’s Volunteer Meet and Match event?
Special Advertising Section
This is how Volunteer Meet & Match works: • Nonprofits provide information about their causes and skill requirements online. Potential volunteers also sign up and provide info about the causes they care for and their skills. • Volunteer Meet & Match staff matches volunteers with nonprofits before the event. • Volunteers arrive on the day of the event and receive a map showing where different organizations are located as well as their causes and skill requirements.
- Nonprofits will share information about their work and impact on the community. - Volunteers will share information about their interests and expertise and offer their time and skills to make a difference in their community. Discussions will be based on: - Description of the mission and impact of the nonprofits. - Volunteer job descriptions prepared by the nonprofits. - List of skills or qualifications prepared by the volunteers.
Great event although it was quite crowded • Pre-registered volunteers will get a list of recommended matches with when she was there. She appreciated being nonprofits. able to pre-register which allowed her to target the one organization most aligned TODAY! with her interests. She thinks we need toREGISTER • Volunteers and nonprofits meet to consider holding more than one event a discuss their interests. year.
oprfcf.org
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room
Me e Ma t & tch
REGISTER TODAY!
oprfcf.org
spring 2017
Special Advertising Section
Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who help end local hunger!
April 14, 2017
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Take the Lead ✓ Build Leadership Skills ✓ Grow Your Network ✓ Lead Our Community
Together, we will gain valuable insights into how our community works and will create stronger, more engaged leaders in a thriving and vibrant community.
Learn more and volunteer at
Get started:
www.oprfcf.org/leadership-lab
We connect!
oprffoodpantry.org
Our Volunteers, Our Friends
Thank you for being lifelong students and teachers, valuable mentors and colleagues, skilled researchers and wonderful friends. Visit FLWRIGHT.ORG
Registered Organizations for Volunteer Meet & Match as of April 9, 2017 1. 16th Street Theater
24. OPRF Chamber of Commerce
2. AgeOptions
25. OPRF Food Pantry
3. Animal Care League
26. Oak Park Township
4. Cisco and Cisco Productions
27. Oak Park Women’s Guild
5. Cluster Tutoring Program
28. Opportunity Knocks
6. Expressions Graphics
29. OurVillageLife
7. Forest Preserves of Cook County
30. Park District of Oak Park
8. Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory 9. Green Community Connections
31. PING! Providing Instruments for the Next Generation
10. Hephzibah Children’s Association
32. Pleasant Home Foundation
11. Housing Forward
33. Pro Bono Network
12. Hunger Walkathon West CROP Walk
34. Pro Musica Youth Chorus
13. IMPACT
35. River Forest Township
14. L’Arche Chicago
36. RSVP, Triton College
15. Lutheran Child & Family Services of IL
37. Sarah’s Inn
16. Manifested Love Ministries
38. Shawnash Institute, Inc
17. NAMI Metro Suburban
39. Symphony of OPRF
18. New Moms
40. Ten Thousand Villages in Oak Park
19. Oak Park Art League
41. The Day Nursery
20. Oak Park Education Foundation
42. The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest
21. Oak Park Festival Theatre 22. Oak Park Public Library 23. Oak Park Regional Housing Center
43. West Cook YMCA 44. Wonder Works Children’s Museum
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spring 2017
April 12, 2017
IVolunteer!
Organization Listings Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
Housing Forward
Inspiring tomorrow’s architects today. Our D97 program has introduced thousands of students to Wright’s design legacy. Our community’s vitality is enhanced by the mission of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Through its stewardship of the Home and Studio, the Trust continues to preserve an Oak Park treasure as a source of community pride and inspiration. To learn more or donate, go to flwright.org 931 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
1851 S. 9th Avenue, Maywood 708.338.1724 www.housingforward.org Founded in 1992, the agency provides integrated services to at-risk and homeless individuals and families in six areas: emergency assistance, employment readiness, supportive housing, outreach and engagement, supportive services, and emergency shelter. Housing Forward’s goal is to transition people from financial and housing crisis to stability.
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry $1 = 3 meals, is an equation only you can make possible. With your help, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry has been reducing local hunger for nearly 40 years. Your support means we are able to meet the needs of nearly 16,000 families struggling with hunger each year. It means we can provide over 50 pounds of nutritious food plus access to vital programs and services to help people stretch limited food budgets in healthy ways. It means that even a little goes a long way: every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day. To make a donation, visit www.oprffoodpantry. org or send checks payable to OPRF Food Pantry to Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.
Special Advertising Section
PING! Providing Instruments for the Next Generation pingoprf.org pingoprf@gmail.com PING! Providing Instruments for the Next Generation Founded in 1998, PING! loans musical instruments to students in need in the Oak Park-River Forest public schools so that they can participate in their school band or orchestra. PING! also provides music enrichment through workshops, mentoring, scholarships for summer music camp, and private music lessons. Founded in 1998, PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) loans musical instruments to students in need in Oak Park-River Forest so that they can participate in their school band or orchestra. PING! also provides music enrichment through workshops, mentoring, scholarships for summer music camp, and private music lessons.
Looking To Make A Difference In Our Community? Housing Forward has been leading and transforming the delivery of shelter, prevention and supportive housing services in west suburban Cook County since 1992.
We’re looking to fill these volunteer positions: PADS Transitional Shelter (May—September) Individuals/groups who help support our summer shelter program. Volunteers can sign up for the following options: Breakfast , Lunch, or Dinner Provider.
Prevail Employment Readiness HR Professionals are needed for help with interview skills and resume writing. Volunteers are needed during daytime hours Mon. through Fri. and Tues. evenings.
Prevail Emergency Assistance program needs volunteers to meet with individual clients to discuss their PADS Shelter (September—May) Once a month financial needs and develop an action plan. Volunteers commitment, week and weekend shifts available. Our are needed during daytime hours Mon., Wed., Thurs., greatest needs are overnight 10:30pm—2:00am and Fri. and Tues. evenings. A counseling background is not 2:00am—5:00am AND mornings from 5am—7:30am. necessary but good non-judgmental listening skills are a must. All volunteers must attend an orientation session.
For more details visit: www.housingforward.org/get-involved Or email: tdaniel@housingforward.org tel: 708.338.1724 ext. 220