Retirement
We might not have palm trees or a slew of early-bird specials, but what makes Chicago such a great place to retire is that it is simply a great place to live. Its accessibility via public transportation and its multiple senior services allow retired residents to get around easily and enjoy everything the city has to offer. There’s no need to slow down when there are so many things to do at any pace and at any age. You won’t miss the palm trees when you can still get to Chicago’s many museums, stroll along the lakefront path, enjoy a free concert, or dine at any number of amazing restaurants that open just as early as you need them to, but serve award-winning food from world-renowned chefs. When it’s time to take things down a notch, Chicago offers a variety of comfortable housing options that offer care with respect and dignity.
1. Anti-Cruelty Society
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 644-8338
Address: 157 W. Grand Ave.
Description: One of the oldest animal shelters and pet advocates in the city, the Anti-Cruelty Society works to find loving homes for healthy or rehabilitatable dogs and cats. They also help educate the community about compassion for animals, work to prevent cruelty to animals, and provide low- or no-cost spaying and neutering. Volunteers are essential for all components of its mission.
2. Boys And Girls Club
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 235-8000
Address: 550 W. Van Buren St.
Description: With its 16 locations around the city, primarily focused in Chicago’s most underserved and often most threatening communities, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago offers children ages 6 to 18 a welcoming and safe after-school option. The programs address character and leadership, education and careers, health and life skills, the arts, and fitness and sports. The most common ways to lend a hand include mentoring, helping to run or assist with programs, and organizing supply drives to collect everything from sports equipment to school supplies.
3. Chicago Animal Care And Control
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 747-1406
Address: 2741 S. Western Ave.
Description: It’s not the most beautiful way-station for lost and unwanted pets, but it’s possibly the hardest-working. This City of Chicago open-door shelter accepts all animals and typically has in its kennels and cages between 300 and 500 dogs, cats, reptiles, rabbits, and more. The 54,000-square-foot facility houses a medical division as well and runs a fleet of 22 vehicles for stray animal pickups. Warning: Volunteering here requires a screening process including finger-printing, not to mention that it might just lead to bringing home a pet of your own.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Address: 2 N. Riverside Plaza
5. Chicago Conservation Corps
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 743-9283
Description: A project of the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment, this organization partners with other leaders in environmental improvement, restoration, cleanup, and education. Their blog provides a list of upcoming projects, which might include everything from a work day at the Forest Preserves to a “Trash to Treasure” swap.
6. Chicago Cultural Center
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 744-6630
Address: 78 E. Washington St.
Description: Help out with the multitude of free events at this landmark Loop cultural institution, lead building tours, answer questions at the information booths or at booths at center-sponsored events, or even assist at the Marriage Court wedding ceremonies here. Besides the chance to meet a variety of interesting people and do something good for Chicago’s arts scene, volunteers receive 15 percent off merchandise at the Cultural Center shop.
7. One Good Deed Chicago
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (312) 744-7135, or call 311
Address: 121 N. LaSalle St.
Description: Through a Cities of Service Leadership Grant, Chicago began this city-sponsored effort to promote volunteerism by harnessing the talents and knowledge people have and matching them with existing nonprofits that need assistance. Organizations register to become part of this growing network, and people and groups interested in volunteering search the database to find a project that fits. The focus is on high-risk youth, education initiatives, and economic recovery.
8. Paws
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Retirement
Description: Founded in 1997 and now Chicago’s largest no-kill animal shelter, PAWS is famous for its cageless adoption center and its busy spay and neuter clinic. Among other things, PAWS Chicago’s 4,000-some volunteers serve in the welcome center, as adoption-center tour hosts or adopter follow-up callers; they keep the animal spaces clean and the animals loved and fed; they ride aboard the new GusMobile spay-neuter van, which is based on the South Side where the largest concentration of Chicago pets are; and they foster pets in their homes until they’re ready for adoption.