Helping You Help Others

The Volunteer Center (VC) helps residents and service groups of all ages in the New Trier Township, North Shore and greater NE Metro Chicago area volunteer or engage in days of service and service learning with 501C3 nonprofit organizations.

Volunteer Opportunities For Nonprofits Sign Up for The VC eNews Search Nonprofits
Donation to MADD

A young volunteer donates childrens' clothes at Make a Difference Day 2013.

boyscouts

Helpful Cub Scouts bring food for families at Good News Partners on Thanksgiving morning

Family and friends 2013 KAH

Over 10,000 meals were sent to children in Nicaragua at this Kids Against Hunger event in April.

Working Bikes Piled High

Working Bikes took home a truckload of donations at Make A Difference Day 2014

2014 MLK Day Mom and friends Medium

Our highly successful 2014 MLK Day of Service was held for the first time at the Winnetka Community House.

2013 SOS decorations for food baskets

Wilmette members of SOS helped make Thanksgiving decorations for last year's Thanksgiving Greet and Feed

Enthusiastic young volunteers

Enthusiastic young volunteers at 2014 Make A Difference Day collected so many books they could hardly carry them!

+MLK, Little girl and dog toys

Over 700 volunteers made blankets, shelter animal toys and other donations at our 2014 MLK Day of Service.

Orphans with dogs

Orphans of the Storm collected a truck full of animal toys, food and supplies at last year's Make A Difference Day.

Barb, smiling Frank and Jane

Jane Gallery and Frank Craven of Our Place were 2 of the 5 volunteers honored at our 2014  Recognition Event

Board GCG

The VC Board had a great day harvesting produce for nonprofit partner Glencoe Community Garden.

Thanks to all who participated in the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

This whole family from Chicago makes MLK Day of service an annual tradition!

Over 700 volunteers of all ages and abilities joined the Volunteer Center, The Kindness Connection, the Winnetka Historical Society and the Winnetka Community House at this year’s MLK, Jr. Day of Service, benefiting 13 local nonprofits — and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s visit to the Winnetka Village Green. Watch the video presentation “Civil Rights on the North Shore: Bringing the Movement home documenting the efforts of the North Shore Summer Project in the early 60’s.

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Sign Up Now for Kids Against Hunger March 21, 2015

Family and friends 2013 KAH

Register here to join The Volunteer Center, The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, the Winnetka Community House and other local community groups to pack 100,000 nutritious meals for starving people in our community and Nicaragua. This is a great opportunity for volunteers of all ages.

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Thanks to everyone who donated to the 6th annual Warming Hearts and Hands program

MAD-warming-hearts-and-hands

Thanks to our partner Make It Better Foundation — and to our hundreds of supporters — for helping give new coats, hats, gloves and scarves to over 1,000 men, women and children during the holidays.

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Mark Your Calendar to Make A Difference at This Year’s Volunteer Center Days of Service

Extended family shares their bounty on Thanksgiving morning.

Coming up: 2 of the Volunteer Center’s most important Days of Service — and our annual Volunteer Recognition Event. Click here for more information.

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- Inspirations -

"It is high time that the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service."

- Albert Einstein