10 Places that Need Volunteers for the Holidays and Anytime

1.

Daybreak Center. Run by Catholic Charities, this shelter provides emergency housing for up to 100 people a night and always needs volunteers to help with programs provided to the homeless and low income. Contact Jennifer Belshaw by phone at 815-774-4663 or email at jbelshaw@cc-doj.org.

Catholic Charities also has need of other volunteers. Click here to see the full list.

2.

MorningStar Mission. The organization is seeking dozens of volunteers to do everything from work in their kitchen to provide meals to homeless people to answering phones, serving as mentors, stocking pantries and doing grounds work. For a complete list and information on how to volunteer, click here.

3.

Presence St. Joseph Medical Center. You can volunteer to do tasks at the hospital, such as visiting the sick, helping register patients and doing clerical jobs, or put your crafting skills to use by making baby hats, rehabilitation and oncology lap robes, open-heart "coughing" pillows and "boo-boo bunnies." For a complete list and information on how to volunteer, click here.

4.

Easter Seals Joliet. The agency needs help with special events, office duties and grounds or building maintenance. For more information on how to get involved, click here.

5.

Rialto Square Theatre. The theater uses volunteers to take tickets, usher, greet patrons, work beverage and concession sales, and raise funds. For more information, go to www.rialtosquare.com/volunteers.asp or call Leann Hoffrogge at 815-726-7171, Ext. 211.

6.

Guardian Angel Community Services. The agency needs volunteer to work in its emergency shelter, respond to sexual or domestic violence victims in hospital emergency rooms, plan fundraisers and annual events, and assist with mailings and office/clerical work. For more information, go to www.gacsprograms.org/volunteer/ or call Valerie Pastwa, 815-729-0930, Ext. 233, or vpastwa@gacsprograms.org.

7.

Lambs Fold Center for Women and Children. The agency needs volunteers to receive donations, sort clothing, organize the clothing room, sort food donations, do errands, assist with transportation, assist with large mailings, do maintenance work, and do sorting and wrapping of Christmas gifts. For more information, go to lambsfold.org/volunteer/ or call 815-723-5262 and ask for the volunteer coordinator.

8.

Forest Preserve District of Will County. Volunteers are needed to be interpreters, stewards, special event staff, campground hosts, chainsaw operators and to participate in workdays at forest preserves. For more information, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org/volunteer-opportunities/Available-opportunities or contact the volunteer supervisor at 815-722-7364 or rgauchat@fpdwc.org.

9.

Will County Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The agency needs volunteers for its Joliet ReStore at 200 S. Larkin Ave. to process donations, pick up items for the store and interact with customers. For more information, go to www.restorejoliet.org/volunteer.aspx or call Tom at 815-714-7100.

10.

H.A.R.T. (Homeless Animal Rescue Team). The Joliet-based organization is completely volunteer-run and needs volunteers to transport animal, work at the facility, pick up donations, attend events, pass out fliers, organize fundraisers, provide animal foster homes, and do other work. For more information, go to www.hartofil.com/how-to-help.html.