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 (January – November)
Misericordia is open to the public each Sunday for a delicious Sunday Breakfast and Brunch menu. The Brunch Sundays are heavily operated by volunteer support. Volunteer tasks vary from waitstaff, kitchen help, dish washers and more. We ask that all volunteers be flexible with their assignments. This volunteer opportunity requires volunteers to be at least 17 years of age and to make an all day the commitment of 9:00 AM -3:00/3:30 PM. If interested in this opportunity please contact one of the following people to see if help is still needed on the Sunday you are available. Peter at phiggins@lipkinhiggins.com or 847-251-3131; Molly at mbmc11@yahoo.com or 414-839-6058; Nancy Turry at giftshop@misericordia.com or 773-273-4189.
We are also in need of a regular/weekly experienced grill chef to volunteer under the direction of the Misericordia’s chef. Good cooking skills a must. This volunteer opportunity would require an inservice to be sure this opportunity is mutually good for both parties. If you are able to commit to only one Sunday a month, that would be ok too. Again this would be a full day commitment from 9:00 AM – 3:00/3:30 PM. Please contact Theresa at 773-273-4161 or theresar@misericordia.com.
"Twice Blest" Thrift Shop in Palatine, IL
"Twice Blest" in Palatine (27 E. Northwest Highway) is a thrift store where all proceeds directly benefit the children and adults of Misericordia. Since November 1980 the Twice Blest Thrift Shop 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. Call Misericordia’s volunteer office or contact the store directly at 847-934-1140 to offer your help.
Laundry Helpers
Misericordia does nearly 3500 pounds of laundry a day, so needless to say your volunteer support is not only needed but would also be greatly appreciated. It is not a difficult job, but certainly one that requires ongoing help. If you are available on any Saturday, Sunday or Holiday for two or more hours 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 a resident’s waist size is not consistent with his or her pant length, and the pants 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. This is a sporadic need. Once you let us know that you are willing to help, we will contact you as the need arises.
Hair Stylist / Barber
Are you skilled at cutting hair? If so, we would love to have you. Misericordia is looking for people to come once or twice a month to cut both male and female residents’ hair. The families of many of our 600 residents arrange hair cuts outside of Misericordia, but a significant number of residents of all abilities rely on us to cut their hair. Dates and times to be determined according to your availability and our needs.
Women’s Basketball Practice
Individual and team skills and sportsmanship are addressed. Each gathering is geared towards the skill level of its participants. Come teach basic basketball skills and have a blast playing simple games. This is a great opportunity for volunteer groups. Women’s Basketball Practice is on Fridays from 6:45 – 8:15 PM in the gym with Jennifer.
Men’s Basketball Practice
Individual and team skills and sportsmanship are addressed. Each gathering is geared towards the skill level of its participants. Come teach basic basketball skills and have a blast playing simple games. This is a great opportunity for volunteer groups. Men’s Basketball Practice is on Tuesdays from 3:30 – 5:00 PM in the gym with Jennifer.
Friday & Saturday, April 27 & 28th, 2012 Please, please, please consider helping us for this!
Misericordia Annual Jelly Belly Candy Days
10,000+ 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 sign up to volunteer online at www.misericordia.org or call Tessa Garcia at 773-273-2768.
Sunday, June 10th, 2012
Northshore 1/2 Marathon & 5K Run to Benefit Misericordia
This event takes place in Highland Park and requires volunteers to commit to working from 6:15 AM - 9:30 AM. Volunteers are needed to staff an aid station during the race. Volunteers will not only be there as the runners go by to supply them with water but also to provide them with moral support by cheering them on and thanking them for supporting Misericordia. This will be a fun way for Misericordia to be visible and to show our appreciation to the runners and the race committee for choosing Misericordia as beneficiary. --- If you are interested in participating as a runner/walker please contact RAM Racing directly for all details http://ramracing.racebx.com/events/running. It’s a great event!
Monday, July 30th and Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
Bakery Production & Packaging Help
Looking for volunteers (ideally those somewhat familiar with our bakery) to help on this specific Monday or Wednesday . It is Misericordia’s break week so we are without all our resident helpers and yet production for our weekly farmers market still must go on. Looking for a 3-4 hour commitment between 9:00AM -3:00 PM on either or both of these days. Please call to sign up.
Friday, July 27th – Sunday August 5th, 2012
Misericordia Camp Week
This opportunity does involve direct interaction with our residents. Though the camp activity details are not completely worked until early-mid July, there will be activities planned on each day. Volunteer opportunities will vary in time from daytime hours to evenings and weekends. If you are available our staff would love the additional helping hands. It promises to be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Friday, July 27th – Sunday August 5th, 2012
Laundry Helpers
This week is break week for our residents at Misericordia, but as you know dirty laundry never takes a break. Misericordia does nearly 3500 pounds of laundry a day, so needless to say your volunteer support is not only needed but would also be greatly appreciated. It is not a difficult job, but certainly one that requires ongoing help. If you are available any day during this timeframe for two or more hours between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm we’d love to hear from you.
Sunday, September 9th, 2012
Misericordia's 32nd 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 more. This one day event takes approximately 2000 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 12 through adult are needed and welcome, however opportunities for the younger volunteers are limited. This is a great opportunity for both individuals as well as groups.
Holiday Bakery -Just about any day between mid/late October and December 2012
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.
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. (Available in early November each year.)
Pre Holiday Brunch Food Prep & Dining Room Table Setters 2012
The kitchen and housekeeping staff would greatly appreciate volunteers to help with food prep and place setting table setters in the dining rooms on the Friday and Saturday’s prior to the Christmas Brunches. (11/30, 12/1, 12/7, and 12/8). Any 3 hour shift between the hours of 9:00 AM – 3 PM would be greatly appreciated.
Christmas Brunches
Sunday, December 2,2012 & Sunday, December 9, 2012
Misericordia puts on a beautiful Holiday Brunch on each of the above Sunday's. We serve approx. 1000 through the course of the day at 2 scheduled seatings. We are in great need of volunteers on those days. Tasks vary from waitstaff, bakery, raffle ticket sellers, kitchen help, dish washers and more. This volunteer commitment requires volunteers to work the complete day of 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Volunteers are asked to wear black pants, white shirt and comfortable closed toed shoes. Your flexibility in volunteer assignments is appreciated.
Gift Shop
Seasonal help needed in this area for Special Event Parties during November and December (typically evenings).
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 or Mary Doherty at 773-273-4177