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It was a lively evening at our annual Recognition Celebration on May 4th at the Winnetka Community House, where we honored four outstanding volunteers whose extraordinary gifts of time and talent are making a huge difference in the lives of people in need. Click here to read more about the honorees: Emily Bolling, The Floured Apron; Becky Kimbell, The Cradle and Random Acts of Flowers Chicago; Syd Martin, Syd Rocks and Giving Rocks Foundation; Lulu Witcoff, Rainbow Assisted Animal Therapy and Center for Conflict Resolution. You can’t help but be inspired!
Giving Rocks Foundation is unique among our nonprofit partners because it was founded by a 10-year-old girl named Syd Martin, who originally started making and selling necklaces from beautiful Lake Michigan rocks to raise money for research into a cure for LCH, a rare form of pediatric cancer that she was fighting at the time. Learn more about her inspiring story here.
Volunteers of all ages turned out on a rainy day for our annual Day of Service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and celebrating his enduring message of tolerance, diversity and service. At this year’s event on January 17th, The Volunteer Center, The Kindness Connection and the Winnetka Community House hosted hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who participated in a variety of fun service projects benefiting over a dozen local nonprofits and the people they serve. Thanks to generous community support we delivered hundreds of blankets for the homeless, welcome gifts for refugees, and thoughtful gifts for those who are sick or in need — even toys for orphaned animals! Find out more — and check out photos from the event– here.
The annual Bonfire and Barndance is a fun event for all and includes country music, games, s’mores making and general fun around the farm. Volunteers help with tending the bonfires, handing out s’mores fixings, admissions, set up and clean up. If you’d like to come and enjoy a great evening at the farm and help…
The Volunteer Center would like to thank the volunteers and donors that helped make this year’s Make A Difference Day a smashing success even during this challenging time — with a special shout-out to our amazing partners Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High PTOs. Individuals, families and community groups turned out with trunks full of donations for 15 local nonprofits working on the front lines to help people (and animals!) in need. Hard-working volunteers and generous donors adjusted seamlessly to the safe, socially-distanced, no contact drop-off process — and a new location — donating everything from winter coats to prom dresses, school supplies to sporting goods, textbooks to toiletries. Continue reading for more details. See you next year!
The Volunteer Center was a proud partner of Giving DuPage’s workshop on Nonprofit Leadership and Volunteer Management Strategies on Wednesday, October 28, led by internationally-recognized consultant and author Betty Stallings. The room was filled with nonprofits looking for ways to more effectively recruit and manage volunteers — and do some networking while they were at it!
Donations to The Volunteer Center are tax-deductible.