Midwest Food Bank

Food distributed each month now reaches over 1,000,000 people. Nearly all the work is done by volunteers. Examples of volunteer opportunities include: preparing disaster relief boxes and repackaging bulk foods into manageable quantities for local food pantries. Church groups often help in these efforts. Volunteers can pick times and days that suit them.

Safe Harbor Meals Project

We provide the dinner for Safe Harbor Shelter on the 3rd Sunday of every month as part of a long-standing commitment.  Our High School Youth Group is responsible every other month, leaving plenty of opportunities for others in the congregation. Contact Bonnie Garneau for more info via office@uubn.org. 

Faith in Action

This organization helps seniors with transport to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, visits or companionship visits or phone calls to lonely homebound seniors, and some minor maintenance work. Volunteers, who come from many area houses of worship, are fully insured while driving. The minimum volunteers can serve is one day a month for three hours at a time; times can be arranged in advance to suit your schedule. Call 309-827-7780 for applications and more information.

Western Avenue Community Center

Western Avenue Community Center supports a Food Pantry serving about 900 families per month in addition to other programs for the community. Youth programs include after school sessions for K-5, summer camp for grades 6-8 and counselling for at-risk youth. The Hispanic Outreach program provides social services and counselling for Spanish speakers. For seniors, there are educational, social, and physical fitness events. Volunteers could help with the Food Pantry, with a senior event, or with light office duties. For more information on specific volunteer opportunities, call 829-4807.

Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club provides after-school and summer activities geared to youth ages 6-18. If you are interested in volunteering, please call 309-829-3034 for more information.

Immigration Project

The Immigration Project is a nonprofit organization that provides immigration legal assistance to the 100,000 immigrants residing in Central and Southern Illinois. Volunteers are vital to the success of the Immigration Project! Though some assignments require fluency in Spanish; others have no foreign language requirements. Flexible hours accommodate busy schedules. Volunteers often work in small teams of two or three to complete assigned tasks related to citizenship; help with web development, media, and graphics is also needed.