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Volunteer Opportunities

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Senior Services Associates, our clients, their families and our communities all benefit from the generosity of our volunteers. Our agency has a variety of programs that offer meaningful volunteer opportunities to individuals of all ages, in Kane, Kendall and McHenry Counties. If you have time available to help, there are always more needs than available volunteers. Our programs include:

Volunteering Application

AmeriCorps Seniors (RSVP)

The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program pairs thousands of Americans aged 55 and older with organizations creating change in communities across the country.

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who serve in our RSVP program choose how, where and when they want to serve with commitments ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week. Our coordinators work with you to find an opportunity to serve at any one of the local organizations we partner with. Click here to learn more about the program and connect with a local coordinator in Kane, Kendall and McHenry County. You’ll be glad you did!

For more information, please visit americorps.gov

JOIN AMERICORPS SENIORS (RSVP) AND BRING OUT THE BEST OF AMERICA

AmeriCorps, a national network of service programs offers a wide range of opportunities to volunteers of all ages. AmeriCorps Seniors (RSVP) provides older Americans (55 plus) the opportunity to apply their life experience to meeting community needs. AmeriCorps Seniors serve in a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, public agencies and faith-based groups. Among other activities, tutoring and mentoring youth, responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans and their families and meeting other critical needs. AmeriCorps Seniors is sponsored by Senior Services Associates.

Senior Services is honored to sponsor a local AmeriCorps Seniors Program covering Kane, Kendall and McHenry Counties. Our current roster boasts a membership of over 1,100 AmeriCorps volunteers. Those who are 55 plus are able to work with a local coordinator in order to be matched with a nonprofit in need of volunteer support.

Research has proven that volunteering has many benefits including health benefits. AmeriCorps Seniors partners with Create The Good.

Wanna Be Like Stan?

Stan joined us as a volunteer in 2016 as a Friendly Visitor. And then it began….he was bit by the volunteer bug and hasn’t stopped. Since he enrolled as an AmeriCorps Seniors member (previously RSVP), he has also taken on assignments with Catholic Charities as a Meals on Wheels delivery volunteer, he also drivers seniors to necessary medical appointments, and when asked, also picked up food and other essential items during COVID “shelter in place”. Stan also finds time during the holidays to deliver meals and gifts to local seniors. To date, Stan has recorded almost 700 hours as an AmeriCorps member.

Volunteers with our program decide where and how much time they want to give. Our program is built around flexibility, if you can only help with mailings or other “one-time” assignments, we’ll take it. If you would like to establish a scheduled volunteer assignment with a non-profit in your community, we can make that happen too! Just contact your local coordinator and as how you can get started.

Who do I contact to learn more about the program?

  • Northern Kane County
    Peggy Gomez
    (847) 741-0404        (Elgin Office)
    Email
  • Southern Kane County 
    Rebecca Koss
    (630) 897-4035       (Aurora Office)
    Email
  • Kendall County
    Rebecca Koss
    (630) 553-5777      (Yorkville Office)
    Email
  • McHenry County
    Julie Hahn, Volunteer Coordinator
    (815) 344-3555      (McHenry Office)
    Email

Eligibility

AmeriCorps Seniors is open to people age 55 and over. Local projects recruit seniors to serve from a few hours a month to nearly full time.

AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Benefits

  • Reimbursement Policy
    Reimbursement is provided to volunteers for transportation through Federal and Agency funding. Mileage reimbursement is subject to the eligibility requirements listed below:
    • Enrollment in the program
    • Volunteers must serve no less than three (3) hours for the day(s) in which you are requesting reimbursement, including travel time to and from the assignment.
    • Maximum transportation cost (mileage, Dial-A-Ride, bus) reimbursement is $25 per month
    • No reimbursement can be given unless timesheets are received by the 10th of the following month and contain the following information:
      • Your signature
      • Station name and station coordinator’s signature
      • Hours/minutes actually served (include transportation time)
      • Checked box indicating reimbursement YES.
  • Excess Liability Insurance
    During their volunteer service, AmeriCorps Seniors are covered by accident, personal liability and excess automobile liability insurance.
  • Volunteer Recognition
    An annual volunteer recognition event is held in order to thank active AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their hours of service.

Volunteer Opportunities

The local AmeriCorps Seniors program (RSVP) covers Kane, Kendall and McHenry Counties, and is sponsored by Senior Services Associates. The program is funded in part by AmeriCorps and by the Illinois Department on Aging. Our project is working to solve essential community needs by focusing on the following areas of need.

The Corporation for National and Community Service 2011-2015 Strategic Plan outlines the strategy for addressing the six focus areas identified in the Serve America Act: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.

  • Disaster Services
    Concerns regarding the preparation, mitigation, response and recovery efforts that relate to disaster events.
  • Economic Opportunity
    Addresses unmet needs of economically disadvantaged individuals, including financial literacy, affordable housing and employment-related assistance.
  • Education
    Topics related to unmet educational needs within communities, especially those that help at-risk youth to achieve success in school and prevent them from dropping out.
  • Environmental Stewardship
    Matters regarding energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, at-risk ecosystems and behavioral change leading to increased efficiency.
  • Healthy Futures
    Addresses unmet health needs, including access to health care, increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in youth and increasing seniors’ ability to remain in their own homes.
  • Veterans and Military Families
    Addresses unmet needs of veterans, members of the armed forces and family members of deployed military personnel.

Please contact your local representative (listed above) to find out how to get started as a volunteer.

For more information about RSVP program please visit AmeriCorps.gov

Long-Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman Program

Volunteers in this Illinois Department on Aging program advocate for the rights of residents who live in long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen are trained to protect and improve the quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents. If you’re interested in this important program, click here to learn more details, or call the program’s Volunteer Coordinator, Tina Dolan at (630) 897-4035.

Friendly Visiting Program

Seniors in need of companionship are paired with trained, screened volunteers who are 18 years and older and are available to spend time with their matched senior either weekly or bi-weekly. This program is currently available in Kane, Kendall and McHenry Counties.

If you would enjoy a companion, would like to volunteer, or want to refer someone who you think might benefit from a weekly visit, please contact one of the following Friendly Visiting Coordinators:

  • McHenry County
    Karen Tobin
    Crystal Lake Office Phone: (815) 356-7457
    Email
  • Southern Kane County
    Cindy Adams
    Aurora Office Phone: (630) 879-4035
    Email
  • Kendall County
    Cindy Adams
    Yorkville Office Phone: (630) 553-5777
    Email
  • Northern Kane County
    Janet Soto
    Elgin Office Phone: (847) 741 0404
    Email

Click here to learn more about the program and apply to volunteer

Our Volunteer Transportation Program

There are senior citizens in your community who need your help! In order to help these folks maintain their independence and remain in their homes, Senior Services Associates provides a no-fee transportation program for people age 60 and older through the use of volunteer drivers. Our wonderful volunteers drive seniors who live in McHenry, Kane, and Kendall Counties to needs-based destinations such as doctor appointments, the bank, and the grocery store (when possible).

We could use your support as a volunteer driver! Benefits include: creating your own availability; getting reimbursed for your mileage; excess liability insurance. Most importantly – you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive and meaningful impact on each seniors well-being in your community!

Whether you are available a few times a month OR several days a week, we could use your help and generosity. Most rides are typically during the day, from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. This is a perfect opportunity for retired or semi-retired people want to help while also staying active in the community.

Being a volunteer driver is a rewarding experience and has been a gateway to friendships among strangers. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in improving the quality of life for senior citizens, please contact the Transportation Coordinator for your area!

  • Elgin and Northern Kane County
    Mary Gabioud
    Phone: (847) 741-0404 or email
  • Aurora and Southern Kane County
    Lisa Simpson
    Phone: (630) 897-4035 or email
  • Kendall County
    Richard Walker
    Phone: (630) 553-5777 or email
  • McHenry County
    Christy Strissel
    Phone: (815) 344-3555 or email

Click here to learn more about this program

TRIAD

TRIAD is a partnership with Elgin Township, Kane County Sheriff’s Department, Elgin & South Elgin Police Departments, and Senior Services Associates. This program links seniors, law enforcement and the community through involvement and volunteerism.

This program gives older residents some influence over law enforcement services and raises the awareness of law enforcement officers and the community in general regarding senior citizens’ concerns. Participants in this program are involved in raising awareness in the community of the valuable contributions made by seniors. They develop and implement projects promoting the well-being of seniors in our community. Programs they have been involved in include informational seminars about Frauds & Scams, Financial or Physical Abuse, Senior Patrols and much more.

For more information or to volunteer, call Peggy Gomez (847) 741-0404 or contact her via e-mail pgomez@seniorservicesassoc.org

 

Volunteering Application