A few hours of your time will make a difference in the lives of the children and adults that call Misericordia "home".

Misericordia welcomes two types of volunteers, "regular" volunteers and "special event / holiday" volunteers. Below is an explanation of the two different types of volunteer commitments. Please read to determine how you can help.

REGULAR VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT

Misericordia offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. If it is a regular commitment that you are looking to make, we have a list of approximately ten pages of different opportunities to choose from. We are confident that there is an opportunity to fit the personality and schedule of just about everyone. We offer weekday, weeknight and weekend opportunities. All of these opportunities take place on our campus located at 6300 N. Ridge Ave., (at the corner of Devon & Ridge), in Chicago.

In order to create a stable environment for our residents, Misericordia does require each "regular" volunteer to commit to a minimum two - three hour commitment per week for at least a 6-12 month term. These volunteers must complete the full volunteer process which begins with filling out a volunteer application. Volunteer orientation is mandatory and is typically only given once a month. Depending on when your application and references are received, it is possible that placement could take up to 4-5 weeks.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A VOLUNTEER FORM, which can be completed and returned via fax or mail to:

SPECIAL EVENT / HOLIDAY HELP
If you are interested in helping Misericordia, however you know that it is unrealistic for you to make a weekly commitment; there are still plenty of opportunities for you to help. These volunteer opportunities normally do not include interaction with our residents, nor do they require you to go through the regular volunteer application process in order to participate. Time commitments vary from 2-3 hours to one full day. You simply only need to call in advance to sign up.

MISERICORDIA HOME
SPECIAL EVENT
&
HOLIDAY
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE VOLUNTEER!
For more details regarding any of the events below
or to volunteer please contact
Theresa Rooney at 773-273-4161
Mary Doherty at 773-273-4177
or by email at : theresar@misericordia.com
NOTE: The following volunteer opportunities rarely involve direct interaction with our residents,
therefore, no volunteer application process is necessary in order to participate.
You simply just need to call to sign up.

Regular Sunday Breakfast & Brunches
Misericordia is open to the public each Sunday for a delicious Sunday Breakfast and Brunch menu. Tasks vary from waitstaff, kitchen help, dish washers and more. This volunteer commitment requires volunteers to work the complete day of 9:00 AM -3:30/4:00 PM.

Bakery Order & Processing Assistant
Misericordia's Hearts & Flour Bakery is seeking some volunteers that are willing to answer phones, take bakery orders and input the order information into the computer. From October through December your help on any day between the hours of 9 AM - 4 PM would be very much appreciated. Computer experience and a confident and pleasant phone personality is very important and necessary. The bakery manager will train the volunteer on computer specifics.

Saturday Bakery Help
(Except holiday weekends.)
Any 3 hour shift between 9AM - 4 PM on Saturday would be appreciated.

"Twice Blest" Thrift Shop in Palatine, IL
"Twice Blest" in Palatine is a thrift store where all proceeds directly benefit the children and adults of Misericordia. In the 22 years of its existence it has operated solely on the generosity of donations and volunteer staff. Twice Blest is in need of your help any day Monday - Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM.

Laundry Helpers
We are in great need of volunteers that would be willing to help fold laundry. It is not a difficult job, but certainly one that requires ongoing help. If you are available on Saturday or Sunday for any two hours or more between 8:00 am - 2:00 pm we'd love to hear from you.

Tailor / Seamstress
Are you looking for a way to be helpful to Misericordia but can not commit to a weekly commitment? If you have moderate sewing skills then this is the volunteer opportunity for you. We are looking for a person(s) willing to do minor alterations on resident clothing. Often our resident's waist size is not consistent with his or her pant length, therefore need hemming. If you have a machine at home and would be willing to pick up and return the items needing alterations we'd be grateful.

Thursday Sports
Individual and team skills, sportsmanship and awareness of leisure activities are addressed. Each gathering is geared towards the skill level of its participants. No experience is needed to be actively involved. Volunteer Groups are always welcome. Meet every Thursday from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Sunday, March 9^th, 2008
Southside Irish Parade
Misericordia residents look forward to marching in the southside St. Patrick’s Day parade each year and would love to have you come along as a chaperone. Volunteers normally meet at our parade starting point at approximately 11:00 AM.

Friday & Saturday, April 25^th & 26^th, 2008
Misericordia Candy Days
12,000 volunteers are needed throughout Chicago and all the suburbs. It's your typical "tag day". Volunteers are needed to work the streets, sidewalks and store fronts of Chicago and the suburbs. Volunteers simply pass out candy and informational tags in exchange for donations. Any minimum 2 hour shift would be greatly appreciated. Learn more or Volunteer online at www.misericordia.org.

Sunday, June 8^th, 2008
Club Northshore 1/2 Marathon to Benefit Misericordia
This event takes place in Highland Park and requires volunteers to commit to working from 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Volunteers are needed to serve as "marshals" during the race. A marshal is a person that simply stands at a designated spot along the marathon course to keep the runners on track. You'll point them in the direction they need to go and clap and cheer them on as they go by. That's it. It's a simple, yet important task that just about anyone is qualified to do.

Sunday, July 20^th, 2008
ACCI Show - Donation Pick up
Each July Misericordia is offered a huge donation from the ACCI Craft Show. This is a much needed and appreciated donation. Strong able bodied volunteers are desperately needed to help load and unload trucks. This project will involve both light and heavy lifting. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Rosemont Convention Center at 4:00 PM to gather the donation and load it on our trucks. Then at approximately 6:30 PM volunteers are needed back at Misericordia North to help unload. The pizza’s on Mis! Your help would be most welcome even if you are only able to help at one location instead of both.

Saturday, July 26^th - Sunday, August 3^rd, 2008
Camp Week Activities
This opportunity does involve direct interaction with our residents. Though the details are not completely worked out at this time, there will be activities planned on each of these days. Volunteers will be needed both during the daytime hours as well as in the evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 PM. If you are available our staff would love the additional helping hands. It promises to be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Tuesday - Saturday, September 2^nd - 6^th, 2008
Pre Fest Set-up
We can use all the help we can get anytime between 9 AM - 4 PM on the days listed above. Some of the major projects include:

• Building, setting up and painting the stages
• Painting picnic tables and area fencing
• Sorting and hanging signs
• Moving boxes, supplies, etc. to various locations
• Bakery and Food Prep

If you and/or your family and friends can help with any of the above, we would be delighted to see you. Please call or email first to let us know you’re coming so we can be sure to have a job waiting for you.

Sunday, September 7^th, 2008
Misericordia's 28^th Annual Family Fest
Family Fest is for all ages. Nearly 13,000 people from all around Chicago and the suburbs flock to our campus for a wonderful afternoon of food, fun, drink, live entertainment, kids games and rides, bingo, raffles, shopping and a huge flea market. This one day event takes approximately 1000 volunteers in order to run smoothly and the volunteer opportunities are endless. Time commitments are generally broken up into 2 ½ -3 hour shifts. Volunteers age 10 through adult are needed and welcome. This is a great opportunity for both individuals as well as groups.

Holiday Bakery -Just about any day between October and December 2008
Misericordia Bakery would be happy to see volunteers. No bakery experience required. Volunteer tasks will vary between scooping, mixing, baking, packaging and displaying bakery products. Your flexibility is appreciated. Any 3 hour or more shift between 9 AM and 9 PM (on most days) is helpful. Bakery dress code: closed toed shoes, long pants, short/long sleeved shirt and a hat or hair net. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own hat or will be given one to use by Misericordia. Please call in advance to schedule your time.

Gift Shop
Seasonal help needed in this area for Special Event Parties during November and December (typically evenings).

Ho Ho Ho! Celebrate the season and be a Secret Santa for a child or an adult at Misericordia. Though we refer to it as the "Secret Santa" program and conduct it only once a year, it is truly a program that continues to give all year long. Our residents come to us from all walks of life. The parents and families of our residents generally purchase Christmas, Hanukkah and Birthday gifts for their family members. However, we serve many persons who have no families and are Wards of the State. An additional number of residents have families who exist at the poverty level and therefore are unable to buy gifts for them. We are grateful to the friends who help put the word "special" in special occasions for these children and adults. Call 773-273-4161 for a wish list.

If you have any questions about these volunteer opportunities or if you are interested in making more of a regular volunteer commitment, Misericordia has plenty of other volunteer opportunities, however, those opportunities would require persons to go through a full volunteer process. Please call for more details Theresa Rooney 773-273-4161.