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On January 24, 2012, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) hosted a Volunteer Leader Certification Course. Nineteen people from various organizations and with widely different levels of experience attended the two-hour course, which was free and open to anyone. Emily Mihalcean, an AmeriCorps VISTA with HOSC led the course with assistance from staff and other VISTAs. The [...]

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) and 400 students from three middle schools in Community Consolidated School District 21 participated in service projects and diversity awareness activities. London Middle School participated in two Speedy Service Projects, with a total of 100 sixth and eighth grade students conducting two service [...]

HandsOn Tech, the new nonprofit technology program from HandsOn Suburban Chicago, has selected the 33 organizations that will receive full technology assessments this year. Nonprofit organizations from the city of Chicago and suburbs submitted applications through December of 2011, and selections were made after the New Year. The selected organizations will receive a team of [...]

Start the new year off right by volunteering; helping others is a fun way to meet new people, gain new insights about the world, and make a difference. We at HandsOn Suburban Chicago strive to help make volunteering as easy and quick as possible. As a volunteer clearinghouse, HandsOn Suburban Chicago partners with over 160 [...]

HandsOn Suburban Chicago is starting out the new year by offering trainings, workshops and webinars to  help nonprofits implement best-practices in volunteer and nonprofit management, as well as to learn about new solutions to challenges that nonprofits face.  Volunteer Leadership Certification Course: January 24, 2011, 6:00pm – 8:00pm -Learn how to successfully plan and execute volunteer projects [...]

On January 24, 2012, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) will host a Volunteer Leader Certification Course that is free and open to the public. This course is designed for any volunteer who manages other volunteers, and will provide individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead successful volunteer projects. The course will cover the basics [...]

These are challenging times for our nonprofit community. Nonprofit agencies have to do more with less as demand for their services is increasing while federal, state, and other funding is cut. One hopeful answer to this critical situation is to effectively unleash the power of volunteerism. As one of the few nonprofits in suburban Chicago with [...]

A  ”Fast Forward”  workshop was presented at Oakton Community College on December 5, 2011.  RSVP Program Coordinator for HandsOn Suburban Chicago, Linda McLaughlin, partnered with Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s Volunteer Manager, Magda Scanlon to speak to attendees in a current career transition about the importance of volunteer work while in a job search.  Workshop topics covered: Why Volunteer [...]

On Saturday, December 3, 2011 75 residents of Inverness on the Ponds Community gathered to celebrate with friends and neighbors the holiday season.  While sharing the spirit of the holidays the community residents provided for those less fortunate by donating 145 food items for the Palatine Food Pantry.  It is humbling to see so many [...]

On November 29, representatives from HandsOn Suburban Chicago attended a student volunteer fair at Niles West High School. The fair was open to all students during their lunch hours, and provided them with information about local volunteer opportunities. HandsOn Suburban Chicago staff and VISTAs spoke with an estimated 75 students, and gave demonstrations on how [...]

On January 24, 2012, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) hosted a Volunteer Leader Certification Course. Nineteen people from various organizations and with widely different levels of experience attended the two-hour course, which was free and open to anyone. Emily Mihalcean, an AmeriCorps VISTA with HOSC led the course with assistance from staff and other VISTAs. The course covered basic topics in volunteer leadership that included tips on planning and executing volunteer projects, as leading and inspiring volunteers, and gave attendees an opportunity to put course content into practice by discussing various case studies. VISTA Stephany Ross gave a special presentation on using Google Voice to communicate with volunteers via text message.  One course attendee stated, “I’ve led volunteers for 30 years, but this helped me improve and think through the effective leading of volunteers.” Another participant said that this was a “great refresher course, but for those with little experience in managing volunteers- this class is an eye opener!”

 In order to receive certification, course attendees will need to commit 8 hours to leading volunteer projects over the next 6 months. Several attendees have already been engaged in planning upcoming activities and projects.

In partnership with numerous social service agencies in the area, HandsOn Suburban Chicago has prepared a listing of holiday needs and opportunities and we hope it will be a useful resource for you and others who seek to adopt holiday activities.  By adopting just one child, providing one meal, or visiting a lonely senior you can brighten the [...]

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) and 400 students from three middle schools in Community Consolidated School District 21 participated in service projects and diversity awareness activities.

An array of fleece scarves created by CCSD for MLK Day Events.

London Middle School participated in two Speedy Service Projects, with a total of 100 sixth and eighth grade students conducting two service projects.  Students made fleece scarves and attached encouraging notes.  Scarves were donated to Bessie’s Table in Des Plaines and Journeys from PADS to Hope, both organizations which help individuals in need of food and warm clothing.

The projects were unique in that each group was divided into work crews with specific tasks, including volunteer leaders and reporters.  The students not only executed the project, they also managed it and reported their fellow students’ reactions.  “It feels good to contribute to the local people that are going through tough times and need help,”  stated one London eighth grader. “Even something as simple as a scarf with a reassuring message can make a huge difference.”

While service projects were being conducted at London Middle School, another activity titled: Diversity: Different Yet The Same was offered in the school commons.  Students were blindfolded and led through an obstacle course with little guidance in order to experience what it might feel like to have a disability. Students then engaged in a discussion about what it felt like to be reliant on someone else. They also discussed the importance of equal opportunities for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or level of physical and mental ability.

Students at London Middle School experience what it’s like to be visually impaired during the MLK event.

Oliver Holmes Middle School in Wheeling also participated in the same scarf service project, with 36 more scarves produced and given to Connections for the Homeless, in Evanston.  The student reporters captured students’ impressions.  “I feel sad because this is for the homeless and homeless are freezing cold and don’t have anything to keep them warm,” said sixth grader, Alexa.

Sergio M said he felt connected with the project.  “I feel good and part of something bigger.”

Students at Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove participated in MLK Day with a program called Diversity Through Dance.  Eighth grade students gathered in the school gym to watch a performance by Free Flow Dance Crew, a group of Buffalo Grove High School students with diverse ethnic backgrounds.  Each crew member spoke briefly about their ethnic background, their interests in unique dance styles and how they got involved in dancing before they launched into a high-energy dance routine.

Following the performance, the students were divided into smaller groups and each Crew member taught their specific dance style to their group.  The program ended with the students circled around the dance crew as they engaged in an impromptu freestyle “dance-off”.

Cooper Middle School, Assistant Principal Bob Gurney said, “the teachers and students were very happy with the presentation.  The teachers felt like the students got the message while also having a lot of fun.”

HOSC is able to provide more programming through the  AmeriCorps VISTA grant that provides VISTA members to help in such volunteer initiatives that engages youth and youth leaders in community service and awareness.  Four current VISTA members, Catie Krasner, Emily Mihalcean, Stephany Ross and Lisa Horn organized and prepared these activities at the three schools.

Patty Neuswanger, Schools and Youth Program Manager at HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC)  felt this year’s MLK Day activities were better than ever.  “The service projects were really embraced by the students and I think they were amazed at how great the scarves looked.  It was a quality final product.”

A special thanks to Free Flow Crew members (Ken Banting, Maurice Brimage, Colin Imperial, Mark Makogon, Akkina Abraham, Nashaly Ramirez & Eli Davis) for the Diversity Through Dance presentation and to Jo-Ann Fabrics in Arlington Heights for the generous discounts on purchases for scarf making supplies for the service projects.

Sixth graders at London Middle School create personalized messages for the fleece scarves.

Eli Davis from Free Flow Crew demonstrates his dance steps to Cooper Middle School Students.

On Tuesday, November 15, Chris Smith, HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s CEO/Chief Operating Officer, was invited by Marc Dennison of the Park Ridge Kiwanis to speak at their weekly meeting held at The Summit of Uptown, Park Ridge. The topic was the Importance of Volunteering. Chris thanked the group for their service which extends to many organizations [...]

HandsOn Tech, the new nonprofit technology program from HandsOn Suburban Chicago, has selected the 33 organizations that will receive full technology assessments this year. Nonprofit organizations from the city of Chicago and suburbs submitted applications through December of 2011, and selections were made after the New Year. The selected organizations will receive a team of skills-based volunteers that will evaluate the organization’s current technology infrastructure and will solve some of the organization’s most pressing technological issues.

Many nonprofit organizations are slow to adopt new technologies that can help them save money or become more efficient in their work. This has been especially true in the past couple years with the advent of cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server. The HandsOn Tech program will focus on implementing these services, as many of them including Google Apps, Dropbox and Salesforce, are free for nonprofits. After an assessment, a nonprofit organization could be able to share and collaborate on documents in real-time, efficiently manage data with online databases, effectively promote their organization online and in social media, and more.

HandsOn Tech was founded in August of 2011 by HandsOn Network, Google and AmeriCorps VISTA to improve nonprofit organizations’ ability to serve their constituents with new technology. The consulting service is one of three main aspects of the program. The other two are technology workshops for nonprofits and classes for low-income community members. All services are free for nonprofits and community members.

Nonprofits were chosen from all parts of the Chicagoland area. Some are located in the northwest suburbs, some are in the downtown area, and some operate on the south and west sides of the city. All nonprofits chosen displayed great enthusiasm for using new technologies to improve their ability to serve the community.

HandsOn Tech program is a new national program that was founded by HandsOn Network, Google, and AmeriCorps VISTA. With seven sites around the country, AmeriCorps VISTAs will be working to improve nonprofit technology capacity through their in-depth consulting services and weekly workshops. All services are free to nonprofits, and bring volunteers from leading technology corporations throughout the city. To learn more about how your nonprofit can get involved, visit their website at www.volunteerinfo.net/hotc.

HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) worked closely with Community Consolidated School District 21 (CCSD21) to complete a pilot program for an afterschool tutor/mentoring program in April 2011.  The pilot program was such a success that the program was implemented at both London Middle School in Wheeling and Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove for the entire [...]

Start the new year off right by volunteering; helping others is a fun way to meet new people, gain new insights about the world, and make a difference. We at HandsOn Suburban Chicago strive to help make volunteering as easy and quick as possible. As a volunteer clearinghouse, HandsOn Suburban Chicago partners with over 160 nonprofit organizations and schools who need volunteers, and they share with us how they need help. You can search over 300 different volunteer opportunities on our online, searchable database. (click here) HandsOn Suburban Chicago annually recruits and places between 7,000-8000 new volunteers with area charities, and one of them this year could be you!

Decide what kind of volunteering you would like to do and when; scroll through our lists of possible volunteer opportunities to give you ideas if you are not sure what kinds of things you would like to do. Decide when you are free–daytime, evening, and how much time you would like to give, how far you would like to travel, or if you prefer to volunteer at home. You can do a one time short term project lasting a few hours, or you can decide to do something even longer, say for example, for a few weeks.

You may be ready to try out something on a longer term basis; be aware that some volunteer opportunities may require some type of training, which an organization will give you, should you decide to want to volunteer on a regular basis. There are also family friendly volunteer opportunities, as well as opportunties suitable for youth, seniors, and groups.

You simply sign up online for the volunteer opportunity of your choice, and your request is automatically forwarded to the agency you would like to volunteer with; the volunteer coordinator from the agency will be in touch with you after you send them an email, which HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s online system automatically does, once you sign up.

Whatever you decide to do, we strive to help you be glad you did! Ready to volunteer? Click here to start volunteering today.

If you need help, or if you have any problems, the best way to reach us is: volunteer@volunteerinfo.net.

If you are over age 55, you can also email us or call: 847-228-1006, and ask for Linda.

Don’t miss the interview with Chris Smith,  HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s Chief Operating Officer on Linked Local Network Radio , Thursday, November 10th at 4:00 p.m. In addition to growing volunteer and nonprofit connections, HOSC is making new, lasting relationships with corporate America.  The Linked Local Network Presents Radio Show interviews business professionals, owners and leaders in the Chicago [...]

HandsOn Suburban Chicago is starting out the new year by offering trainings, workshops and webinars to  help nonprofits implement best-practices in volunteer and nonprofit management, as well as to learn about new solutions to challenges that nonprofits face.

 Volunteer Leadership Certification Course: January 24, 2011, 6:00pm – 8:00pm -Learn how to successfully plan and execute volunteer projects and develop skills in volunteer management. Attendees will receive a Volunteer Leader Kit that includes numerous resources to assist in the management of volunteer projects. Individuals who attend this free course and spend a minimum of 8 hours assisting in the management of service projects for HandsOn Suburban Chicago and its partner agencies will receive a Volunteer Leader Certificate from HandsOn Suburban Chicago.

Excellence in Volunteer Management Training Series: February 28 – March 1, 2012, 3 days from 9:00am- 4:00pm- a sequence of six courses on organizing and implementing an effective volunteer program in a nonprofit or government organization. The interactive curriculum is based on the newest research and effective practices in the industry, and is packaged in an easy-to-use format. Series is given by Chris Smith, HOSC Chief Operating Officer & Nonprofit Capacity-Building Consultant. Each participant receives a workbook with resources, copies of the power point slides and templates to support each unit. The cost of the EVMTS certificate course is $480 for nonmembers. HOSC and Americorps members are entitled to the special rate of $240, a 50% discount. All attendees will have an opportunity to take an open book exam to earn a “Volunteer Management” Certificate of Achievement for completing course work successfully.

Lunch and Learn Sessions – All Lunch and Learn sessions are complimentary to current Community Partners and $15 for non-partners. Sessions are from 12:30 – 2:00 pm. Please bring your lunch as food will not be provided.

• Excel Tips (February 2, 2012)
• Fundraising Events (March 14, 2012)

 HandsOn Tech Trainings in January and February 2011

HandsOn Tech seeks to encourage nonprofits to adopt modern tools to increase capacity for change. Free webinars and trainings scheduled for January and February 2012 include the following:   

• Effective Internet Presence (January 10th, 1- 2:30pm)
• From Computers to the Cloud, Technology Essentials for Nonprofit Leaders (January 17th, 1 – 2:30pm) 
• Search Engine Optimization for Nonprofits (January 20, 8:30 – 9:30am)
• Website Design with Squarespace (January 24, 9 – 11:30am )
• LinkedIn for Nonprofits (February 6, 5 – 6:30pm)

Bringing Business and Nonprofits Together to “Make it Work” as they Support the Region SCHAUMBURG, IL October 26, 2011 / In honor of Make a Difference Day activities extending through October 2011, Schaumburg Business Association and HandsOn Suburban Chicago are partnering to launch a Nonprofit Services Section as part of the 2011 SBA EXPO for [...]