Congressman
John Shimkus

December 2005

Volunteering in the Community

Volunteering... it's a way of giving and receiving.
When you volunteer, you give part of yourself, your time, energy, skills and feelings. You give to your family and friends, to your neighbours, to your community. Volunteering doesn't have to be a one-time experience. For many, it's a lifetime activity. And the best time to start is NOW.

Ideas for Service:

• Adopt a friend/child (do services/activities for/with)
• Adopt a pet
• Christmas boxes for needy children/families
• Clean someone's car (inside and out)
• Clean someone's home
• Clean a church (inside and outside/grounds)
• Cook meals for needy/elderly
• Donate blood
• Donate clothes/toys/house hold items
• Free car washes
• Give Christmas trees to needy at Christmas time
• Help out at shelters/hospitals/nursing homes
• Hygiene kits (for shelters)
• Litter cleanup (roads/parks)
• Make stuffed toys/dolls for children
• Organize rides to locations for those without transportation or limited mobility
• Read to elderly
• Caroling at hospitals/nursing homes
• Story telling to children
• Teach reading to the illiterate
• Wash windows (churches/other buildings/homes)
• Yard cleanup for neighbors (grass/weeds/leaves/snow)

Illinois Opportunities:

• State Volunteerism and Community Service - Please note the Section Links on the far right
• Illinois Department on Aging
• Volunteer Illinois - Matches volunteers to community needs
• Red Cross in Illinois

Nationwide Opportunities:

• Links
• U.S. Government Agencies Focused on Volunteerism
• Service Organizations
• Points of Light
• Volunteer Match
  Note: All of these tips and more can be found online at the Department of State's website.

Interested in another monthly theme? See the complete list here.

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