Civic Engagement Opportunities | Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning

Civic Engagement Opportunities

The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning maintains a list of current volunteer and service opportunities for students.

Last updated on December 10, 2018.

Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Opportunities

MLK Day of Service

MLK Day of Service will be held on Monday, January 21st. More information to come.

Local Community Service Opportunities

Santa Arrives in Uptown Normal

We are looking for fun, jolly, and animated individuals/groups to serve as Santa's Elves! Elves will help with line management, as excited children wait their turn to see the big man himself! They will also be helpful in taking family pictures if needed. All shifts include time at the beginning to get into costume and time at the end for a shift change. Costumes (Elf Hats and Vests) are provided for you. We are looking for 2-4 volunteers per shift. You may also sign up for more than one shift. Sign Up Here!

Luther Oaks Art Project

Luther Oaks is looking for Art or Design students to create art for the My Tapestry Memory Care Unit. They would like some art that is tactile and that can be used to engage the residents in conversation. Please contact Debi Terfruchte 309-557-8043 if interested to learn more.

Home Sweet Home Ministries

Home Sweet Home Ministries needs your help! We are greatly seeking volunteers to help sort donations at our Warehouse, located at 1700 West Washington Street, in Bloomington. Individuals or groups up to 25 in size can sign up to volunteer anytime Monday through Friday from 8 am-4 pm. We would love for you to become one of our regulars! Applications may be submitted HERE. Contact Linda Merrill at 309-828-7356 ext. 217 or lmerrill@hshministries.org for more information or to schedule a time to serve.

Partners in Technology

We are looking for mentors employed in, retired from, or studying programs in technology related fields. These mentors would work with kids aged 10-14 who are interested in technology. The program will run for eight weeks, beginning the week of January 21st, 2019. Mentors will be selected and paired based on availability, area of knowledge, and number of applicants. Mentors will be paired with participants ages ten to fourteen with an interest in expanding their familiarity and knowledge of technology through one-on-one learning. Pairs will meet weekly at the library at an agreed upon time for 1 hour (60 minute) sessions. During these sessions, pairs will have access to a range of library and open-source, free resources to aid their technology exploration. Pairs are encouraged to spend at least 15 minutes of their weekly sessions engaging in "unplugged" activities that encourage computational thinking skills. This program is part of the Libraries Ready to Code Grant funded by The American Library Association and sponsored by Google. Participants in Partners in Technology may be asked to complete surveys regarding the program. Survey findings may be presented at conferences or for grant related purposes.

All are encouraged to apply! Those not chosen to participate at this time will have the option of participating in future Partners in Technology programs. Contact Danny Rice - Children's Technology and Programming Librarian with any questions. drice@normalpl.org

INtegRIty Counseling

Integrity Counseling has expanded its hours and is looking for front desk reception volunteers. We need both regular volunteers (2 hours or more per week) and substitute volunteers who can be called when someone is ill or on vacation. We especially need volunteers for late afternoons, evenings, and every other Saturday AM. Our reception volunteers answer our phones, do phone screenings, and help schedule clients based on counselor availability. We are flexible with schedules and are a great volunteer placement for retirees and students. For more information contact Luella at 309-827-9100 or email info@integrityhelps.org.

St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry

Volunteers are needed 9am – 1pm and 1pm – 4pm every Monday to assist with distribution of food pantry items. Volunteers are also needed every Friday from 12pm – 2pm to assist with loading food as well as the second Tuesday of each month from 1pm – 3pm to assist with the mobile food pantry. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Holy Trinity Church at (309)829-2197.

Habitat ReStore

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore needs support from someone who can serve as a volunteer cashier or answer phone calls. The role requires no previous experience, just a positive attitude, a friendly smile, and honesty when handling money and transactions. The volunteer cashier will ring up customers, answer phone calls, and answer basic questions from customers or simply direct the customer to a staff member. The volunteer can read a book or study in between customers and calls. Volunteers needed anytime Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm or Saturday 9am-4pm. Any number of service is appreciated. No advance scheduling necessary. Any majors are welcome, but may especially pertain to social work and business majors seeking customer service skills, ability to connect with and relate to many different people, and seeing how different roles contribute to a greater organization. Looking for approximately 1-5 volunteers per week. Please direct questions regarding this volunteer opportunity to Ashlee Sang at ashlee.sang@habitatmclean.org.

School Street Food Pantry

The School Street Food Pantry is an organization that is dedicated to providing students in the local community with the food, supplies, and knowledge they need to become self-reliant in the future. We are a volunteer-run non-profit operating out of the 1st United Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois. Right next to Illinois State University. Please fill out this volunteer application if you are interested in helping out the food pantry! The volunteer positions vary based on time commitment and labor conditions. The volunteer application explains the duties and commitments volunteers will have to adhere to when working for the pantry. Click here to find the application. Please contact isufoodbankvolunteer@gmail.com with any questions or concerns! Thank you!

Salvation Army

Food Pantry Sorter (Family Services)
Multiple Shifts Available:
Tuesdays: 9am to noon
Wednesdays: 9am to noon
Thursdays: 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm (tech savvy – will be using a tablet)

Volunteers can assemble food bags/basket and distribute food baskets to clients, stock and organize pantry shelves and freezer as needed, take phone messages when needed, and receive, document, organize and sort donations.

Day Center Assistant (Safe Harbor Shelter)
Multiple Shifts to Available:
Mondays: 8am to noon and noon to 4pm
Tuesdays: 8am to Noon
Thursdays: Noon to 4pm
Fridays: 8am to Noon and Noon to 4pm

Volunteers will greet and check in clients, act as a liaison between clients and case managers, answer the telephone and basic administrative duties,log medications and distribute hygiene supplies to clients , and receive and document gifts in kind and sort donations.

To volunteer please contact Joyce Glasscock at (309) 829-9476 ext 203 and complete an online application.

Children's Discovery Museum

Children’s Discovery Museum needs volunteers for week day, after school, and Saturday programming such as art studio, innovation station, and assisting with groups and campus. Volunteers are also needed for special events. All volunteers are required to participate in an orientation prior to volunteering. Contact Amy Pitzer at apitzer@normal.org for more information.

Oakdale Elementary

Are you looking to make a difference in a child's life? Needing a convenient time to volunteer in a place that is close to campus? Wanting to work with an awesome team of people who love what they do? If so, Oakdale Elementary is the place for you to gain the experience of a lifetime. We are a school full of caring faculty looking for a team of people to join us in changing the future of children. We are nestled in the heart of Normal, IL just a 5 minute walk from campus. Time between classes could change the life of a child for a lifetime. Please join us in mentoring our children towards greatness! For more information please contact Andrew Shelby at shelbya@unit5.org.

Volunteer in the IMC at Oakdale Elemenary School (on Adelaide, close to ISU campus). There are volunteer shifts from 7:45-2:30 Mondays - Thursdays. Shifts/classes are 50 minutes. Contact Kara Thompson, the IMC specialist at: thompsok@unit5.org.

Meadows at Mercy Creek

Chair Exercise Leader to conduct low impact/seated exercise with seniors in assisted living in Normal. 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteer one or more times a week. For more information contact Janie at Meadows at Mercy Creek 309-268-1408.

Snack Shop for assisted living residents in Normal. Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Serve hand dipped ice cream and popcorn and visit with residents. Volunteer one or more Tuesdays per month. For more information contact Janie at Meadows at Mercy Creek 309-268-1408.

St. Joseph Medical Center

There are a variety of volunteer needs at St. Joseph Medical Center, including:

Karing Partners Therapy Dog Program
Transport volunteers
Surgical Family Waiting Lounge Host or Hostess
Hospitality Cart volunteer
Cheerful Information Desk volunteers

Orientation and training are offered for ALL volunteer positions. The volunteers must be able to pass a background check and receive a flu shot in order to be considered. Contact Bobbi Hynes at bobbi.a.hynes@osfhealthcare.org or 309-665-4728 to learn more about an opportunity or sign up.

Faith in Action Medical Transportation

Help older individuals stay independent. Provide rides to and from doctor’s appointments. This is a flexible volunteer opportunity where you can pick and choose the rides that fit into your schedule. Sign up to attend a volunteer orientation at this link and click on “Get Involved”. You may also call Faith in Action at 827-7780 or email robin@bnfia.org

Prairie Aviation

Whatever your skill or interest, we can use you here at Prairie Aviation Museum! Greet guests, collect admission fees, collect sales from gift shop, and meet new people. There is a lot you can do! Maintain aircraft, paint, small repairs, Web design! We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to match your skill and interest set! Please email info@prairieaviationmuseum.org Attn: Barn Edwards to sign up or to collect more information!

Home of Hope Committee

We are looking for new individuals to join any of our three committees. This is a chance for your voice to be heard! Bring your fresh, new ideas to the table and assist us in growing and developing our existing fundraisers and programs! Help us network and spread the good word about our organization and the work that we do. This is a volunteer opportunity but can be used as a reference for a job well done.
For more information email Holly at: hphillips@homesofhopeinc.org or call the office at 309-862-0607.

Starved Rock & Matthiessen State Park Trail Clean Up

Due to recent flooding at the park(s) we are need of volunteer groups to help with litter clean up along our trails in the park. This is an ongoing project at the park(s) due to our increasing visitor usage over the years (3 million visitors a year). It would be greatly appreciated if you could share this information with your student organizations looking for community service work and a chance to help the environment while enjoying the outdoors and beautiful scenery at Starved Rock. Student organizations can contact me directly and I will provide them with a group permit to complete (more than 25 people) as well as garbage grabbers and bags. They will need to provide their own gloves. Mondays and Fridays are the best days for pick up since I am in the office and the weekend traffic hasn't begun but we will take help any day that a group is available. Please contact Lisa Sons at Lisa.Sons@illinois.gov with questions.

Volunteer Drivers and Helpers Needed

Recycling Furniture for Families is in desperate need of volunteer drivers to help deliver furniture to people in need and pick-up furniture that is donated to our organization. A special license is not required to drive our trucks. Days/Times Needed: Monday-Thursday 5-7 p.m. and Saturday 9-11 a.m. One day a month would be a big help to our organization and the people in need in our community! Please contact Frank Downes at director@rf4f.org if you are interested in helping us.

IHSA State Finals

The Athletic Department is proud to host various IHSA State Finals events throughout the year. These successful events are largely dependent upon the outpouring of generous volunteers from the Bloomington-Normal and surrounding communities. While our volunteer base is loyal and strong we are looking to bolster our volume. If you, or someone you know, might be interested in learning more about specific or upcoming volunteer opportunities; please reach out to Sarah Bonnett – Director of Events and Game Operations, Redbird Athletics – slbonne@ilstu.edu or 438-3637.

Junior Achievement Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Junior Achievement's volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12th grade programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential. Volunteers visit classrooms just a few times throughout the semester. They share their workforce experience with kindergarten-12th grade students, all while teaching sound economic principles and reinforcing class curricula. Here is how it works:

Sign up for a class in need of a volunteer at a participating school
All materials and training are provided
Set up JA dates/times directly with assigned classroom teacher
Facilitate 5-7 sessions of less than an hour

Contact Sienna Beard at sienna.beard@ja.org or (309) 682-1800 with any questions. Review the JA General Informational Flyer for additional details.

PATH/United Way 2-1-1 Hotline Volunteer

Adult volunteers are needed to answer phones on the 24-hour hotline. Volunteering your time on the hotline offers a rewarding experience and a great opportunity to give back to your community. A complete training program and professional backup is provided. Our training program teaches you everything you need to know, including communication techniques and information about community resources. The next 8-week training class begins February 1, 2018. If interested, the volunteer application is available online . Classroom training meets on Thursdays from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Questions? Call Kevin at 309-834-0541.

STAR Literacy Program

Sharing the Ability to Read (STAR) is a volunteer effort to help reduce illiteracy in Dewitt, Livingston, Logan and McLean Counties STAR trains and places volunteer tutors with adults who want to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and math, or who want to learn English as a second language. Tutor one-on-one or in small group. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Please review more about the STAR program here or contact (309) 834-92222 for more information.

Normal Theater

Volunteers are a crucial part of our operations, offering support in the concessions area and serving as ticket takers. Volunteers work for the hour prior to the start of an event, and then are free to watch the show. Volunteers are welcome to free popcorn and soda during the event. Following the event, volunteers assist in a general cleaning of the theater, taking no more than 15 minutes. The Normal Theater uses an online scheduling system, and you get to choose the shows and positions for which you’d like to volunteer. We also ask that all volunteers be at least 16 years old, and are capable of lifting up to 20 pounds. Volunteer Application can be found here! Please contact Amy Pitzer with any questions at apitzer@ilstu.edu.

Western Avenue Community Center

Seeking Volunteer tutors for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, one day per week: 3:00-5:15 p.m. Opportunities available Monday-Friday for a semester or school years. Work one on one with a child- get to see their progress and growth. Assist with homework, reading, and basic math. Contact Jennifer Trimble at jtrimble@westernavenuecc.org or (309) 829-4807 ext. 1007 for more information and to apply. Orientation sessions schedule in September, get started here with the application now!

The Bloomington Housing Authority and Marcfirst

The Bloomington Housing Authority and Marcfirst work together to support adults with developmental disabilities through the Congregate Housing Service Program (CHSP). The Housing Authority provides apartments to 24 adults with diagnoses at the Irvin Apartments at 823 W. Oakland and 810 W. Jackson in Bloomington. Marcfirst staff provides services and training to assist the participants to become more independent. Therefore, volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly schedule. The length of time spent with participants would vary. However, volunteers should devote at least a half hour at a time. This opportunity is ideal for students to find out if they want to pursue a career working with people with developmental disabilities. If you have further questions, please contact Jen Mayer at 829-3360 ext. 208.

Other Engagement Opportunities

James H. Dunn Fellowship Program

The James H. Dunn Fellowship Program provides bright, highly motivated college graduates a unique opportunity to experience state government firsthand for one year. Fellows work directly with staff in the Office of the Governor to learn about different areas of public administration and develop skills for successful public service careers. Placements are available in policy, federal affairs and communications, among others. The application is available online.

McLean County Regional Planning Commission Internship

MCRPC is accepting applications for a paid intern beginning in January. Applications are due December 14, 2018. Read the full position description.

Crossroad Area Student Theatre Musical Director

Paid position as a part of the production team for the Junior winter musical "Giants in the Sky" and Senior spring musical "Godspell". Read the full position description for more information about requirements, compensation, and applying.

Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows

Prestigious Summer Fellowship at George Washington's Mount Vernon May 25 - July 5, 2019. The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program is a highly selective summer institute for rising college juniors, offering unparalleled learning and networking opportunities at the home of America's first president outside our nation's capital. Learn more here.

Theatre Production Intern

The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, is looking for interested individuals to join our team and work Backstage as Production Interns. The interns selected for this position should expect to be trained in a wide range of responsibilities and be given a variety of tasks. Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Must be able to serve on a show-day from beginning to end. Qualified candidates should be able to work independently while maintaining a compassionate approach with team members. A strong interest in entering a position in the non-profit sector--the arts, theater, museums--is vital. Illinois residents are eligible for $10/hour payment through a state of Illinois Cooperative Workstudy Grant. Please contact Cara Peterson at 309-434-2763 (Desk) if interested.

ILCC Service Corps

Illinois Campus Compact is beginning an AmeriCorps State Program. This program is for college students at ILCC member institutions who are passionate and committed to service. Selected students have one year to service at least 300 hours building capacity for campus and community partnerships . Once these hours are completed the student will receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. If you have any questions regarding ILCC Service Corps please email Marina LoCasto at MLOCASTO {at} depaul(.)edu. Find more information here: https://illinoiscampuscompact.org/whatwedo/ilcc-service-corps/

Summer Discovery

Summer Discovery partners with universities across the US and UK to provide pre-college enrichment programs for high school and middle school students. They are now recruiting Resident Counselors for summer 2019. The resident counselor position is very similar to that of an RA and Preview Guide combined. This job is perfect for the involved student who is looking for a unique and really fun summer opportunity. https://www.summerdiscovery.com/summer-jobs

Casa de Esperanza, Service Internship

Casa de Esperanza provides residential care to children birth through six who are in crisis due to abuse, neglect, or the effects of HIV. Care is provided in our neighborhood by our Hands of Hope interns. Our interns, most of whom are recent college graduates, join us for a year of service (a twelve-month full-time post-graduation internship). We provide on-site housing (interns live with the children they are caring for) and interns join us from all over the United States to be part of our internship program. Information about our internship may be found here: https://www.casahope.org/hands-of-hope-internship

Give, Hope, Fight Poverty

Give Hope, Fight Poverty works in schools, orphanages, and clinics in rural eSwatini, Africa - in communities ravaged by HIV to listen to challenges these young orphans face and work together with Swazi community leaders and partners to develop sustainable solutions to address their basic needs. Through our international service-learning programs, we offer an experience for US students to become engaged with global efforts to offer orphans the tools necessary for lifting themselves out of poverty. The US participants gain a culturally competent perspective that will make them more marketable in our global world and instill in them the importance of making an impact in their community and abroad!! Travel with us on our 10 day service learning experiences and participate in hands-on programming in pediatric HIV clinics, child-headed households, rural schools, and more. On past trips we've built homes/toilets, planted vegetable gardens, delivered emergency food packages to child-headed homes, built children's libraries & provided healthcare to orphans, etc. You can find info about our current programs here: https://youtu.be/WzKft6AxGWs and if you have any questions, reach out to CEO Annie - anniefightspoverty@gmail.com or cell: 765-532-2586".

Tyson Foods Summer Community Internship Program

The Tyson Foods Summer Community Internship Program provides full-time college students an approximately eight-week paid summer internship to assist community organizations and gain experience with diverse social issues. All nonprofits and public organizations within the designated communities are eligible to apply, however, applications are especially encouraged from those focused directly or indirectly on hunger relief, adult education, and immigrant services. Organizations will be selected based on need and capacity to provide a quality student experience. Organizations that received this grant last year are encouraged to apply with an updated job description. Applications are also open for student interns and can be found here.

Donor Registry

There are almost 5,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list in Illinois. You can give hope to those who are waiting by deciding what your wishes are in regards to organ/tissue donation, and officially registering your wish by joining the Illinois Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, and by sharing your wish with family and friends. To arrange for a speaker to give a ½ hour informational presentation to your organization, or to arrange to have a donor drive, please contact Karen Kohnke, Regional Coordinator for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Life Goes On Organ/Tissue Donor Program. Email Karen at kkohnke@ilsos.net, or call/text her at 309-830-3296. One donor has the potential to save as many as eight lives and improve up to twenty-five lives. For further information on the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, go to www.LifeGoesOn.com.

Teacher Positions, YWCA

We need additional teachers for this school year and would love for you to join our team. We are looking for child care professionals focused on fostering a positive learning environment for children. You can find addtional infromation regarding before and after school teacher postions here and special education positions here. Pease direct questions to Melissa Breeden at mbreeden@ywcamclean.org