The village of Lincolnwood has made a community call for student volunteers to participate in the year-round Rescue Rangers program, which provides assistance to senior and disabled residents.
“It’s a great way for the younger people to get involved and help those in need,” Assistant Village Manager Madeline Farrell told Pioneer Press. “It’s a great way for the community to show support to our residents who are limited for one reason or another.”
Rescue Rangers, which Farrell said receives a lot of wintertime requests for assistance with snow removal, seeks middle and high school students in Lincolnwood to volunteer for the program.
“These are usually students who are not yet driving so we usually are pairing them with somebody in their neighborhood or close by,” Farrell said. “The program was set up to seek the student volunteer population and help them get involved and provide help for those in need.”
Farrell said the number of volunteers has fluctuated since Rescue Rangers began during the winter season 20 years ago with 17 volunteers.
“Every year since 2005, we continue to have seniors sign up and volunteers sign up,” Farrell said.
According to Farrell, seven senior citizens, including at least two seniors who signed up in 2024, have requested assistance from Rescue Rangers in 2025 and there is one volunteer so far for this year’s program.
“Residents in the community sign up if they need support for certain tasks.” Farrell said. “That might include shoveling snow, walking pets, bringing garbage cans to and from the curb, small gardening, etc.”
Farrell explained that those residents are paired with a Rescue Rangers volunteer based on location.
“Local students – middle and high school students – are volunteering their time and just basically raising their hands and saying, ‘I’d like to help,’” Farrell said.
Rescue Rangers, which Farrell said has been running pretty smoothly, has had standout successes through the years.
Farrell said a village trustee told at a recent Village Board meeting about how a person helped by a volunteer ended up writing a letter of recommendation for the volunteer.
“So a nice relationship was formed and there was real support provided on both sides,” Farrell said.
Volunteers in Rescue Rangers receive compensation while also making a difference in the community.
“We generally recommend about $10 an hour but it is negotiated between the senior and the volunteer. That’s handled entirely without the village,” Farrell said.
Students who want to volunteer for the program, and senior or disabled residents who lack the physical or financial ability to complete daily tasks and want to hire a Rescue Ranger, may reach out to the village.
Registration for the program is also available on the village website.
“It’s a fun way to give back and connect with neighbors,” officials stated in a Nov. 11 call for volunteers that was posted on the village’s Facebook page.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
