Volunteers are an essential part of ChicagoCAC’s work!
Our volunteers make a difference in many ways—whether tending our Hope & Healing Garden, assisting with our Back to School and Holiday Drives, supporting fundraising events, or helping our child life team create a welcoming, playful space for children visiting the center.
Please note: Due to the confidential nature of our services, volunteer opportunities that offer direct interaction with clients are very limited. Volunteers who interact with families at the center must pass a DCFS and criminal background check. Having the flu vaccine is also highly encouraged.
Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities
Child Life
Child Life volunteers spend time with children during their or their family’s appointments at the center. Activities include playing games with children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, and may include bringing children to and from a therapy dog session, as well as toy cleaning/other tasks. Applicants must be 21+ and must have experience, formal or informal, working with children and families. Background check required. Volunteers must commit to at least six months of service. Bilingual Spanish preferred but not required.
Child Life Volunteer opportunities are limited, but we’d love to hear from you! To be considered, please email your availability and resume to volunteer@chicagocac.org.
Program Support
Program Support volunteers play an important behind-the-scenes role at ChicagoCAC. While they do not work directly with children and families, they help ensure our programs and client services run smoothly. This can include building furniture at our ChicagoCAC and CAN Hope locations, helping with fundraising initiatives, organizing donations, and sorting clothes for our clothing drive events. This role is as-needed rather than a regularly scheduled shift. Please email volunteer@chicagocac.org if interested.
Community Advisory Council
The Community Advisory Council is an excellent way to serve as an ambassador for ChicagoCAC and our work with children and families—especially in prevention education and policy. Members meet every other month to explore how they can help share our mission within their communities.
At this time, all Council positions are filled.
Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities
Kids’ Holiday Event | December
Each year, volunteers help make the season brighter by organizing toy drives—encouraging coworkers, friends, and community members to donate gifts for our Kids’ Holiday Event. Together, they collect thousands of toys, then come to the center to help sort, package, and prepare them for families. If you work for an organization that is looking for a group volunteer project, please reach out to volunteer@chicagocac.org.