Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in volunteering?
One on one interviews are conducted with interested volunteers weekly. Please register with Katie McNamara by email at LPCSinfo@LPCSonline.org or at (773) 549-6111 x216.
Please note: The LPCS does not accept volunteers who are court-ordered to do
community service hours.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Overnight Volunteer: This is a great way to catch up on that extra work you've been meaning to do! Overnight volunteers provide supervision for the LPCS and its guests from 9:00 PM - 7:15 AM on weekdays, and 9:00 PM - 8:15 AM on weekends. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and must interview and attend one of the monthly orientations before training. Overnight volunteers are needed 365 days of the year - but this activity does book up quickly. Volunteers are NOT expected to stay awake all night. You can read, work, watch TV, sleep, etc in a room separate from the guests. Lights out for guests is 10:00 PM. For training, you will be paired with a veteran volunteer for your first overnight until you are comfortable on your own.
Front Desk/Reception: Work with shelter staff, guests, and volunteers! The Front Desk Volunteer answers general phone inquiries and directs calls, oversees guest and visitor sign in/out, and other light administrative projects as needed. Volunteers are needed 6-8pm Monday - Friday, and 11-2pm, 2-5pm, and 5pm-8pm Saturdays and Sundays. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and must interview and attend one of the monthly orientations before training.
Track Activities: Track Activities Volunteers teach one-hour classes that are focused on enhancing personal and professional life skills, and making a habit of engaging in positive leisure activities. In many cases, a syllabus is provided, and volunteers are welcome to bring their background and experience to assist in hosting the classes. We welcome new and fun ideas! Classes are held during the day and evening.
Community Engagement Program (CEP) Breakfast Volunteer: Purchase, prepare, and serve a hot breakfast for about 10-15 of our community clients. This activity takes place every Saturday at 8:00am at St. Pauls Church, 2335 N. Orchard. Breakfast is served around 9:30am. Great activity for groups of around 5 people.
Community Engagement Program (CEP) Hospitality Volunteer: Volunteer on Saturday mornings at St. Paul's Church, 2335 N. Orchard. The Hospitality Volunteers aid LPCS staff by attending to the needs of community clients, monitoring use of the laundry room, showers, telephone, and clothing closet.
Weekday Breakfast: This is a great individual or group activity. Breakfast is served Monday through Friday at 7:30am. Volunteers will purchase and serve breakfast for 20-25 guests, which is served buffet style. Volunteers can come in and cook a hot breakfast or simply bring in bagels and fruit. This is a great opportunity for guests and volunteers to interact on an informal basis.
Sunday Hot Breakfast: Great group activity! Hot Breakfast is served at 9:30am on Sundays. Volunteers purchase, prepare and serve breakfast to the guests of LPCS. The volunteer signing up for the Hot Breakfast opportunity should coordinate his/her own group of volunteers (no more than 10 people!) to provide the breakfast.
Sack Lunches: Sack lunches are also needed on a daily basis. Ppurchase and prepare (at home or at LPCS) 30 lunches, and drop them off in the evening. Staff distributes the lunches in the morning, for guests to take with them as they leave for the day.
Saturday Hot Lunch Volunteers: Great group activity! Hot Lunch is served at 1:30pm on Saturdays. Purchase, prepare and serve lunch to the guests of LPCS. The volunteer signing up for the Hot Lunch opportunity should coordinate his/her own group of volunteers (no more than 10 people!) to provide the lunch.
Dinner Volunteers: This type of volunteer assignment works best with a group of 4-6 people, but no more than 10 (i.e. families, friends, co-workers, church groups). We serve dinner nightly to our guests. Meal volunteers prepare a meal that will serve up to 35 people. Volunteers are expected to plan, purchase, and prepare the food. The menu is up to you!
Family Volunteering: Interested in volunteering with your family? Many LPCS volunteer opportunities are great for families! Kids have a great time playing games with guests and helping serve meals. Family Volunteer opportunities include: making meals, preparing sack lunches, and organizing donation drives at school/work (see description below).
New opportunity! Job Coach: This is a perfect opportunity to get to know and help guests on a personal level. Job coaches are paired up with a guest who is searching for employment in the same employment field in which the coach works (or has worked). Coaches will provide overall job search guidance and be in contact with the guest at least twice per month. The coach will advise the guest of any available job openings and potential job leads of which s/he becomes aware. Job coaches will be carefully matched and interviewed for participation on an as-needed basis. Resumes will be collected from volunteers interested in this opportunity.
New opportunity! Peer Coach: This is also a perfect opportunity to get to know guests on a personal level. Peer coaches are paired up with guests who are experiencing substance abuse, mental illness, and/or chronic physical illness. The peer coach will have experience with the aforementioned challenge(s) and be interested in sharing their experiences for the purpose of helping the guest regain permanent housing. Coaches will be in contact with the guest at least twice per month. Peer coaches will be carefully matched on an as-needed basis, and interviews will be conducted with volunteers interested in this opportunity.
Other Ways to Help
Office and School Collections: Are your friend or co-workers looking for some way to give back? Get them involved by organizing a drive to collect much needed toiletries, breakfast food, socks, and underwear. See our Wish List for ideas.
Job Leads: Do you own a business? Do you know someone who owns or manages a business? If so, pass along job leads to LPCS. Because nearly 80% of guests are currently working or looking for employement, we are able to recommend a good candidate for the job.
Apartment Leads: Do you own an apartment building? Do you know someone who does? Finding affordable housing for employed homeless people can be extremely difficult. Because of our On Track Program we are able to make a good tenant recommendation.
Professional Skills and Experience: Are you a lawyer? Doctor? Teacher? Dentist or Counselor? Let us know if you are willing to donate some of your professional time to the LPCS. Dental work and legal assistance can be especially difficult to arrange for homeless people with little or no income.
Advocacy: Homelessness does not occur in a vacuum. Pay special attention to political issues related to homelessness and welfare. Be aware of how homeless people are often portrayed negatively in the media, by politicians and other officials. Hold leaders accountable by taking action! This can include writing a letter to public officials expressing your concern about policy issues affecting the homeless. Or, write a letter to the editor when you see a story that is slanted unfairly toward the homeless. Advocacy can also take place with your family, friends and co-workers. Let them know about your concern regarding homelessness, and if possible, invite people to become involved with the LPCS to learn more about the issue first-hand. There are a lot of myths about homelessness which direct experience will help to dispel.