Officials at not-for-profit organizations and service agencies say they are hoping that people do not wait until December to call to volunteer. They say they need help now to organize holiday events and tohelp with day-to-day activities. The following are just a few of the places that use volunteers:
– Foster Grandparents needs seniors 60 and older to mentor Lake County children, about 15 to 20 hours a week (reimbursed for expenses). 847-336-1746.
– Highland Park Hospital, 718 Glenview Ave., Highland Park, needs volunteers in many capacities. Minimum age 16. Call Volunteer Resources Director Shelia Riebman, 847-480-3919 or Susan Weindruch, 847-480-2648.
– I-Plus Lake County’s Families Plus program, 109 S. Genesee St., Waukegan, needs volunteers, minimum age 21 with budgeting and people skills, to mentor and work with public aid recipients and case workers. 847-662-1145.
– Kids Korner, a child-care area of the Lake County Courthouse, 18 N. County St., Waukegan, needs activity assistants who can donate four hours a week to do crafts and play games with children while their parents conduct business at the courthouse. Training provided. 847-360-3691.
– Lake County Forest Preserves, needs people to take a four-hour shift twice a month greeting and directing the public and handling light office work at the Ryerson Conservation Area Visitors Center, 21950 N. Riverwoods Rd., Deerfield, 948-7753, ext. 215. In addition, volunteers are needed as nature guides, trail courtesy patrollers, special projects aides, stewards and outdoor adventures naturalists. 847-948-7750.
– Lake Forest Hospital, 660 N. Westmoreland, Lake Forest, needs adult volunteers in many capacities and teens age 14 and older at the hospital’s Westmoreland Nursing Center. 847-234-5600, ext. 6850.
– Maristella, which assists Lake County homeless women and children at Marytown, a Franciscan Friary, 1600 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, needs teenagers and their moms to mentor clients. 847-367-7800, ext. 707.
– Northpointe Achievement Center, an agency that provides social, residential and career support to mentally and emotionally disabled adults, 3441 Sheridan Rd., Zion, needs volunteers age 16 and older to help with holiday activities, assist in the resale shop and help with field trips, group-home mainentance, crafts and to socialize with its clients. 847-872-1700.
– Rosewood Care Center, a nursing home at 4101 Lake Cook Rd., Northbrook, needs people age 15 and older to assist with activities, push wheelchairs to activities and read or visit with residents. Also needs volunteers to lead religious services. 847-562-1770.
– Round Lake Area Park District, 814 Hart Rd., and the Prairie Grass Nature Museum, 860 Hart Rd., Round Lake, needs volunteers high school age and older to help with special events. Call the park district at 847-546-8558 and the museum at 847-740-9826.
– Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County, 290 Oakwood Rd., Vernon Hills, needs volunteers 12 and older to assist with family events and fundraising projects, people 13 and older to help with sports and recreation and volunteers 15 and older to serve as class aides. 847-816-4866.
– Valley High Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Rd., Woodstock, needs volunteers to socialize with residents and to help with activities. For more information, call 815-338-0312.
– Warren Special Recreation Association, 17801 W. Washington St., Gurnee, needs volunteers high school age and older to assist with recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities. For more information, call 847-244-6619.
