Do you want to make your community a better place? Help other people, the environment, animals, and more? Do you need service hours? Do you want to gain experience that could help you land a job or get into college? Listed here are some options for volunteering in our community!
Jacksonville DREAM Center Foundation
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Match kids of all ages with experiences and adult mentors to help them explore their interests, gain job skills, and participate in the community. If you are interested in learning to do something, the DREAM Center can probably help you out! Who is eligible? Open to all junior high, high school, and post secondary youth. You can even bring your friends or family with you! Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Email or call with questions
Address: 210 W. College, Jacksonville Hours of operation: Most afternoons and evenings from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Call or email ahead of time to get matched with someone. Phone Number: 217-473-1303 Email: jacksonvilledreamcenter@gmail.com
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Provide mentoring to kids ages 5-14. Teen mentors (ages 15-18) can be mentors for at a supervised program. Must commit to coming each week. They also need volunteers for events! Who is eligible? Ages 15 - 18 Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Call 217-243-3821 for more information
Address: 110 Walnut Court Jacksonville, IL 62650 Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (By request during COVID) Phone number: 217-602-0023 Contact person: Brian Ganz email: b.ganz@bbbscil.org
MYPLAN Team (Midwest Youth Positive Leaders Affecting Neighborhoods)
Type of Service: Volunteer What they do: Positively affect their neighborhoods through community service, leadership building activities, and volunteerism Who is eligible? Must live in Brown, Cass, Morgan, Scott or Schuyler Counties of Illinois and must be 12 – 17 years old Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Follow Midwest Youth Services on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MidwestYouthServices/or Instagram (@MidwestYouthServicesil). Call Kacy Anderson at 217-245-6000 or email at kanderson@mys-kids.org
Address: 2001 W. Lafayette Avenue, Jacksonville Hours of Operation: Once a month meetings, in addition to volunteer opportunities Phone Number: 217-245-6000
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Volunteer in The Attic (thrift shop) or for special events Who is eligible? Must be 18 years or older. Referral needed? No Best way to sign up: Call agency to ask about volunteering
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Bread of Love and Doorbell Dinners - meal delivery for shut-in elderly Who is eligible? No specific requirements. Must have a vehicle and license, or able to partner with someone who does. Referral needed? No Best way to sign up: Call to ask about volunteering
Address: 800 W. State, Jacksonville Phone: 217-479-4619 Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact person: Nancy Thorsen or Claire Collins email: nancyt@pcaging.com or claire@pcaging.com
Type of service: Volunteer or Internship What they do: preserve and revitalize downtown Jacksonville. They organize events, support local businesses Who is eligible? No specific requirements. Referral needed? No Best way to sign up: Fill out the contact form: https://www.jacksonvillemainstreet.com/contact or call 217-245-6884
JACIL (Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living)
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Assist individuals with disabilities in a variety of ways (building ramps, reading books, driving to appointments, etc) Who is eligible? No specific eligibility requirements Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Call
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Volunteer at the thrift store, food distribution, bell ringing, can help serve meals at holidays Who is eligible? Ages 16 and over unless accompanied by an adult Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Call or walk in for more information
Address: 331 W. Douglas Ave., Jacksonville Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Phone number: 217-245-7124
Or
The Salvation Army Family Store Address: 301 W. Morton Ave. Suite 18A Hours of operation: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m. Phone number: 217-243-3532
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Welcomes youth for volunteering, meeting space available for rent for youth organizations Who is eligible? For Volunteers: 15 - 18 years old (do not need parent present). Under 15 requires adult present Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Call, email, visit website or Facebook
Address: 2244 4-H Club Lane, Jacksonville IL Hours of operation: 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Daily Phone number: 217-673-3771 or 217-370-8593 Contact person: Tanell Anders email: contactourcamp@gmail.com
Type of service: Volunteer What they do: Housekeeping/maintenance tasks Who is eligible? Youth on probation who require community service hours Referral needed? No Best way to access services: Call to ask about volunteering/community service
Address: 1000 Sherwood Lane, Jacksonville Phone: 217-245-2141 Contact person: Lynn Colburn Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 5 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Nov 1 - May 1); (No Sunday hours from May 2 - Oct 31)