Volunteer

You, as the event organizers, are fully responsible for organizing and hosting your fundraising event. YOS can provide guidance, answer questions, set up an online fundraising page, and provide YOS brochures/flyers. If you would like to have a YOS representative at your event, requests should be made at least one month in advance by contacting us. YOS may be able to provide a letter of support for you to send to donors and sponsors when asking for donations. Event examples can include: golf outing, 5K run, bike ride, bowling event, cook out competition, bake sale, car wash, auction, sports tournament, fashion or craft show, sketch comedy performance or open mic night, and so much more.

Especially during the current challenges with connecting with youth during COVID-19, we want to continue to offer our clients unique, fun, and engaging opportunities to learn, discuss, and interact with others. If you have a special skill set or can offer to teach our youth about a particular, relevant topic, please contact us.

We always encourage youth to participate in positive extra-curricular activities, but sometimes those come at a cost. Sports equipment, art supplies, musical instruments, uniforms, etc are things that some of our families cannot afford. A volunteer has an opportunity to meet a youth for a few hours, go shopping with him/her and their counselor, fufill a need of theirs, and have some meaningful conversation. This opportunity is great for a volunteer who wants to make an immediate impact but has limited time on their hands.

Companies are invited to adopt one of our office spaces to redecorate. Each office of ours has private and group counseling rooms that need sprucing up. This creative project allows a group or team to come in to brainstorm ways to enhance a space to make it inviting and appealing to youth who we serve daily. Art work, furniture and rugs, lamps and games…the sky is the limit!

Looking for a team-building activity for your organization? YOS clients are always in need of hygiene products, wellness items, and snacks when they arrive at our offices for programs. We make it easy for you to select items from our various Amazon Wish Lists. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for your team to learn about our mission, assemble these items at one of our sites, and meet some of our staff.

We love to dote on our clients, but we cannot forget about our hard-working staff too. This may include providing a meal or treats to an office. Or supporters can give a kind gesture to show their appreciation by donating a gift card for Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Who doesn’t love a good coffee/tea break? Mail gift cards to Youth Outreach Services, Attn: Development Dept., 2411 W. Congress Pkwy., Chicago, IL 60612.

• YOS partners with One Summer Chicago to place clients in summer job opportunities. To celebrate the youths’ achievements, we like to offer companies the chance to sponsor a unique experience for our youth in the form of a barbecue event, complete with great food and activities.
• YOS also hosts summer BBQs at a few of our office sites in the city and suburbs, throughout the summer, inviting youth and their friends to play games, meet staff and eat great food. Volunteers can grill, bring games, or chat with the youth.

We’ve created an Amazon Charity List with suggested supplies our clients need most to start off each school year strong. If you have a group, lead a fundraiser to increase your impact to provide supplies to more youth! Each person can fill a backpack and either drop it off at our offices or purchase the items online and we can take it from there.

#GivingTuesday, the largest single day of charitable giving nationwide, takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. Show your support by sharing our posts on social media, or doing your own Facebook peer-to-peer fundraiser. Go to YOS’s Facebook page. Click “Fundraisers”, on the left hand side. Select “+ Raise Money”, then follow the prompts to create a fundraising page that describes why your network should donate to YOS.

Restore a bit of joy to our youth and their families during the holiday season, by donating gifts. On average each year, we fulfill nearly 350 gift requests and want to continue to grow that. Games, clothes, art supplies, sports equipment, and gift cards are just a few of the many simple things you can give to bring a smile to a youth’s face during the holidays.

The holidays can be a very difficult time of year for our youth who are incarcerated. For many of these youth, it’s the first time they’ve been apart from their families for the holidays. Hence, the staff at the Illinois Youth Centers plan events to bring a little holiday cheer, including a gingerbread-making event! Staff need supplies, holiday treats, decorations, and more.

We offer several opportunities for companies and their employees to engage in our impactful work. Learn more about Corporate Engagement.