Stay Connected

Volunteer Evanston is revamping its Twitter, Facebook and website so that it is easier to find volunteer opportunities regardless of how you choose to stay connected.

Volunteer opportunities will be posted on these sites as well as reminders about events and logging your hours, community volunteer news updates and other information about reaching 150,000 hours this year.

 @BeTheChangeEV

facebook.com/volunteerevanston

volunteerevanston.org 

Community Outreach

Are you currently volunteering for an organization that is not listed on the Volunteer Evanston website?  We would love to connect with these organizations and agencies that are frequently using volunteers but have not found out about our webpage.

There are several benefits for organizations to join as it allows them the chance to post their opportunities for which they need volunteers and reach the over than 1,300 people in our system. It is a great way to find new volunteers and to track the impact that the volunteers' hours have had on their organization.

Of course, with every organization that is entered it also helps us to reach our goal of 150,000 volunteer hours for 2013.   

Encourage the organization that you volunteer for to create a profile on our website which only takes minutes. They would simply register under the organizations tab.  Also, even if an organization is not in our system, you can still log your hours with them. Simply login and go to "log hours" on the middle right column and enter the organization's name in the second section rather than finding an existing organization.  

Please send us information on the organizations you volunteer for by emailing us at volunteer@volunteerevanston.org.

We appreciate your help in  further connecting us with the Evanston community.

Volunteer Spotlight

This month’s Volunteer Spotlight highlights the exemplary dedication of John (Jack)  Sebesta to the Evanston Library.

Jack grew up in Illinois and after his retirement in 1986, he moved to Colorado where he stayed for 25 years.  During that time he enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping and volunteered with senior and environmental groups.

Jack returned to IL in 2011 to be closer to his daughter and son.   Now living in Evanston for the past two years, he wanted to find a volunteer opportunity that he would enjoy and that would occupy his time.  He was then connected with the Evanston Public Library which was conveniently located near his home and provided flexibility. He has accumulated 184 hours since January, which is 30 hours a month.  He has enjoyed the atmosphere at the library and likes to see so many young people involved there as well. 

Part of his motivation for volunteering was, as a retiree from Bank of America, he could help an organization receive $500 in funding by volunteering for 100 hours. Obviously, Jack has far exceeded that and reached his goal rather quickly. During his time at the library, he has helped in circulation sending out late notices, cycling the hold items; or as he says " any task of which I am physically capable." 

At the age of 88 and as a WWII veteran, Jack believes "you have to keep active to stay alive."  He is a true example of what the City of Evanston needs as a volunteer in the community. 

Visit www.volunteerevanston.org to follow Jack’s lead and “Be the Change” in Evanston.

Agency Spotlight

Literature for All of Us

Literature for All of Us brings the rewards of reading and writing through book group discussions to teen parents and other young people in underserved neighborhoods. We build communities of readers, poets and critical thinkers. We develop family literacy by providing children’s literature and child development resources to teen parents. We open worlds by opening books.

Description:

Through weekly book groups, we bring the rewards of reading and writing to a group of teens whose lives are heavily impacted by early pregnancy and parenting, poverty, violence and gangs. Most are young men and women who have failed to thrive in traditional educational settings and are enrolled in alternative high schools, GED programs and after-school groups. Our book groups are led by full-time professional book group leaders. Our program employs a dynamic, arts-infused approach to literacy that provides critical opportunities for learning, connection, and creative self-expression among an often hard-to-reach population. 

History:  

Incorporated in 1997 by Executive Director Karen Thomson, Literature for All of Us has grown from serving 15 low-income teen mothers in one group to serving 500-600 young people annually. Through collaborative relationships with schools and community-based organizations in Chicago and nearby Evanston, to date Literature for All of Us has reached over 6,500 young people.

On our way to 150,000 Hours

Volunteer Evanston continues to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Evanston’s founding as many community organizations are stepping up to reach our 150,000 volunteer hour goal.  These efforts, along with the hard work of all our volunteering community members, are proving that Evanston is a city with rich, vibrant and ever-growing spirit of volunteerism.

We have now surpassed the 89,000 hour mark and are well over half way to our goal. Here are some recent events that logged some major hours to help the cause:

Interfaith Action of Evanston,  since January volunteers have logged 3,792 hours by providing multiple services to homeless people in the area, including food service, counseling and computer training.

The YWCA's Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate, in it's fourteenth year, had over 5,000 participants and over 300 volunteers. The volunteers, which included employees from Allstate, Enterprise, Lululemon, ETHS sports teams and Y.O.U., had a significant impact in accumulating over 1,000 hours for the event.

Evanston Fourth of July Association, provided playground activities across the city during the day and organized the fantastic parade. Volunteers donated 618 hours to make the beautiful day a success.

Salvation Army Evanston, volunteers have logged 744 hours through helping at the summer camp and as a front desk receptionist.

Civic Center Front Desk Greeters,  these people are the smiling faces that help patrons find the answers they are looking for when they enter the Civic Center.   Since January these four women have logged 800 hours collectively. 

Literature for All of Us,  logged 1,410 hours since February by providing book discussion groups to teen parents and other youth in Evanston.

2013 Mayor's Summer Youth Job Fair,  this great event allows Evanston high school students to find summer employment with Evanston businesses.  Over the course of two days, 30 volunteers logged 154 hours.

If you are inspired by the hard work of your fellow community members, please search a volunteer opportunity that suits you at www.volunteerevanston.org. 

Together we will Be The Change!

New Volunteer Opportunities

Ethnic Arts Festival - Volunteers Needed the Weekend of July 20-21 ! Each July, the Festival transforms the idyllic lakefront of Dawes Park, Sheridan Rd. at Church St., into a global village. Surrounded by the flags of more than 100 nations honoring the diversity of our planet, attendees experience the colors, sounds, and aromas of world cultures. Every continent is represented in song, dance, spoken word, visual arts and food. There is live music, dance performances and art and craft work for sale. People can also learn the folk dance of a far-away country and explore the intriguing spices and seasonings of new ethnic foods. There are several volunteer opportunities needed for this event.  Please sign up and register today by clicking here. Lakeshore Arts Festival Since 1973, the City of Evanston has presented the annual Lakeshore Arts Festival. The festival takes place August 3-4 on Evanston's stunning historic lakefront at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church.  The festival showcases live jazz and classical music, a silent art auction and the popular Children's Craft Tent. The festival hosts a dozen restaurateurs serving a variety of culinary delights. Admission is free.  Once again, there are several volunteer opportunities in 2-hour time shifts.  Please register today by clicking here.

CommUNITY Picnic

Celebrate Evanston, diversity and going back to school! Evanston residents gather for a free community picnic with free food, games, giveaways and entertainment.  The 2013 CommUNITY Picnic will take place from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25 in Ingraham Park, located west of the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue. Admission is free so be sure to bring the whole family. Volunteer opportunities include: Flier Distributors Tent Decorators Disabled Parking Lot Attendee Recycling Distribution Specialist Tent Hostesses Fake Tattoo Stampers Face Painters Food Distributors Sweets Distributors Register to Volunteer here.