Want to have fun while making a difference? Volunteer with Chicago Cares! 

Youth ages 16 and up are invited to attend designated ongoing monthly programs with or without a parent or guardian.  These projects are marked with a special 16+ symbol. Youth younger than 16 must attend a project with an adult and can only attend projects designated with the ages symbol in our monthly calendar.   

You may beautify a park, cook breakfast for hungry seniors, help sort food at a food bank, or complete one of several other of our ongoing programs.

Volunteering with Chicago Cares looks great on a college application, helps you meet new friends, allows you to explore new parts of the city, and is fun!

Get Started! Complete our quick online Orientation and fill out a youth waiver.  Please note: the waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian and brought to each project. 

After you complete orientation, you may access the online calendar where you'll see all the projects you can complete as a youth. Look for the round circles with ages in them - that will tell you which project you can attend as a youth. Just contact the team leader (a Team Coordinator) and bring your youth waiver to your project.

Interested in a project for your youth group? Click here

To learn more about Chicago Cares' Youth in Service Program please contact Chicago Cares Youth in Service Program at youthinfo@chicagocares.org or call 312-780-0800 ext. 122. 

"A VOLUNTEER is a person who remembers to do the thing to make other people happy, who takes the loneliness out of the alone by talking to them, who is concerned when others are unconcerned, who has the courage to be a prophet and to say the things that have to be said for the good of all."      - Anonymous