City: Chicago, IL

Category: Retirement

Telephone: (312) 780-0800

Address: 2 N. Riverside Plaza

Description: Chicago Cares is kind of a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities across Chicagoland that typically require short-term commitments. They help to organize and lead a wide range of projects appropriate for individuals, community organizations and schools, corporations and groups, and youths. Focus areas of involvement include adult and children’s education, environment, health and wellness, hunger and homelessness, senior service, and youth assistance. Chicago Cares runs more than 200 volunteer programs around the city each month and since 1991 has enlisted more than 330,000 volunteers; the annual Serve-a-thon engages in public school improvement projects and involves about 6,000 volunteers alone. The website allows you to search for current projects with volunteer needs or to register for the annual events.